Accordion

Professional Diploma (Performance)
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Overview

The Academy’s Professional Diploma (ProfDip) is a one-of-a-kind programme for students who are looking for a specially tailored extra year of study to provide a competitive edge in building a career. The course is for performance candidates who wish to follow a particular area of focus within or connected to their Principal Study. It is a one-year specialist and intensive Diploma at Level 7 within the UK Qualifications and Credit Framework (post-Masters).

Candidates should have the potential and aspiration to succeed at the highest international standard. Applicants must normally hold a postgraduate degree and put forward a project proposal outlining what they hope to achieve.

It is a highly focused combination of one-to-one tuition and professional development activity built around the needs of each individual student in consultation with the ProfDip Programme Tutor and the relevant Head of Department. Applicants will normally have completed a master’s degree but the programme is available to all applicants of the appropriate standard.

A note on assessments

The Professional Diploma and Advanced Professional Diploma are designed for musicians who already hold a Master's degree or equivalent professional experience. You will be asked within your Acceptd profile to state if you also wish to be considered for alternative postgraduate courses and your ultimate course placement remains flexible; the panel may discuss and recommend a different postgraduate pathway (such as the MMus or MA) during your assessment if they feel it better matches your academic needs.

Applying for both the Professional Diploma and Advanced Professional Diploma pathways

Students completing the Professional Diploma (ProfDip) in June will also be eligible to apply to the Advanced Professional Diploma (Adv ProfDip) as a nine-month enrolment starting the following September in Year 2 of the course.

The first year of the Adv ProfDip is identical to the ProfDip, meaning that the ProfDip will be a potential exit award for students unable to continue into, or complete, the second year of the Adv ProfDip.

If you want to apply for either of these courses alongside your main application, you do not need to create a second profile or submit a new application on UCAS Conservatoires. Instead, just:

  1. Opt-in: When prompted in Acceptd, indicate that you would like to be considered.
  2. Upload your documents: Add the required specialist proposal document (for the Prof Dip) or written requirements (for the Adv Prof Dip) directly to your existing Acceptd profile.

Training

In addition to the 45 hours of one-to-one tuition, all postgraduate students undertake an extensive programme of departmental activity targeted to their specialist focus.

Examples of ProfDip Specialisms

Examples of specialisms include:

  • Opera repetiteurship
  • Historical Performance for modern instrumentalists
  • Preparation for opera studies
  • Orchestral Doubling specialisms (eg contrabassoon or piccolo)
  • Collaborative piano
  • Composition for television, film and media
  • Flute and piano duo repertoire from the first half of the twentieth century
  • Extended techniques on the cello
  • The German school of tuba playing, with an emphasis upon orchestral performance
  • The study of poets: lieder with texts by Shakespeare and Goethe
  • The role of the principal viola in an orchestra

Examples of Adv.ProfDip Specialisms

  • Side-by-side activity alongside internal and/or visiting professors. (Workshops and rehearsals as well as concert activity.)
  • Developing critical and verbal skills for teaching and/or entrepreneurship and/or public communication, choosing from a range of PG electives as appropriate; minimum class attendance will be required.
  • Chamber music – either as member of an existing ensemble(s), or with the aim of establishing new collaborations.
  • Leadership: ensemble direction, principal roles in orchestra, other aspects of mentoring.
  • Recording focus – enrolment on Self-recording and Self-editing elective mandatory.
  • Performer embedded in Composition and Contemporary Music Department (where applicable).
  • A specific project (or projects) resulting in live performance(s) and/or a recording.
  • Ensemble piano partnership development
  • HiP specialisms (repertoire and/or instruments)
  • Extended instrument family specialisms (bass clarinet, etc.)
  • Any compositional specialism (where applicable)

Guides, Handbooks & Specifications

Entry Requirements

  • Academic: A Master’s qualification or equivalent (in a relevant subject), but the Academy welcomes applications from students who may not meet the usual academic requirements.
  • Performance: A performance (or compositional, where applicable) standard at least equivalent to recognised postgraduate degrees and a clear sense of a direction (specialism) for further study.

You must complete a proposal document if you wish to be considered for a Diploma pathway. Your proposal should be included in your Acceptd profile.

Using the template below, please provide a one-page proposal outlining your chosen particular specialism and your intended individual learning outcomes for the course.

The aim of this course is to provide a platform for specialist professional development, which will allow you to follow a particular area of focus within or connected to your Principal Study.

There are several areas in which we recognise particular needs:

  • Historical Performance
  • Change of discipline (for example Piano to Piano Accompaniment)
  • Related instrument specialisms
  • Chamber Music (to be explored in detail at approval)
  • New Music
  • Compositional specialisms (e.g. working with other media)
  • Special repertoire projects
  • Collaborative Recording Production

This is not an exhaustive list and we could consider individual applications for other specialisms.

Auditions

Auditions at this level are evaluated against a high professional benchmark. The panel is looking for artistic maturity, stylistic authority, and a clearly defined vision.

Candidates are assessed through a combination of a digital video portfolio, written submissions, and a practical audition process.

Your Audition Repertoire

You must present a substantial, self-curated recital programme that reflects your readiness for a high-level specialist or pre-professional performance career.

Repertoire Guidelines:

  • Selection: You must prepare a varied 30-minute programme of at least three contrasting pieces (or movements of substantial works) of your own choice.
  • Stylistic Breadth: Your chosen selection should display a wide range of expression, character, and technique, ideally showcasing both original works for classical accordion and advanced transcriptions from different musical eras.

Performance note: For first-round video submissions (video applications and international centres), accompaniment should be included where required (this can be a 'minus-one' track if you are unable to get an accompanist). For live, in-person auditions in London, you may bring your own pianist or an Academy accompanist will be assigned on the day.

Your digital application profile on the Acceptd portal must contain:

  • Specialist Portfolio / Project Proposals: Any written project proposals, study plans, or recording logs specific to your course level (as detailed above).
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) & Performance History: A comprehensive professional resume detailing soloist history, orchestral experience, masterclasses, and major achievements.
  • Spoken English Introduction (video application, or international centres): A short recorded verbal introduction introducing yourself, your musical background, and your professional goals to the faculty panel.
  • Video recordings (video application, or international centres): You must upload one unedited video containing your complete audition performance programme. Your recording must be captured under clear audio and visual conditions.

Repertoire for International Audition Centres

Please note that the Advanced Artist Diploma is not available by video or through our international centres.

If you are selected from your video recordings to perform in person at one of our international audition centres, you should take the same repertoire items you uploaded into your Acceptd profile.

What to Expect on Audition Day

Delivery Options & Practical Assessment

  • In-Person (London): You will perform your repertoire live for our panel. As live audition time is strictly limited, the panel may choose to hear selected sections or movements of your pieces rather than the full programme. This is standard procedure to ensure they experience a balanced overview of your technical skills and repertoire.
  • International centres: If you are selected from your video recordings to perform in person at one of our international audition centres, you should take the same audition repertoire items you uploaded into your Acceptd profile. As live audition time is strictly limited, the panel may choose to hear selected sections or movements of your pieces rather than the full programme. This is standard procedure to ensure they experience a balanced overview of your technical skills and repertoire.

Interview

You may participate in a structured conversation with a programme tutor, which may take place in person or online. This interview is designed to explore your future study plans, your artistic direction, and the specific details of your written project proposal.

For more information see auditions.

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