Bassoon

Overview

The Advanced Professional Diploma in Performance (APD) is for students seeking a final-stage bridge to professional work. The course supports development of a range of industry-related skills (as appropriate to the individual profile) with course supervision provided in addition to one-to-one lessons (see list of possible specialisms below).

Successful applicants will have highly developed performance or compositional skills and a detailed understanding of their individual professional development needs. This will need to be articulated in the form of a deliverable set of outcomes/goals for the work during the course.

APD students will be supported in developing a high degree of independence in their work through the course, in order to be able to meet professional expectations. The course is at level 8 of the FHEQ, which demands a high level of autonomy and initiative.

This course is right for you if you are almost ready to enter the profession and have a strategy for refining or developing specific skills to make the transition. It is designed to enable students to make the most of the artistic and educational opportunities afforded by the Academy and its location in the heart of London.

A note on assessments

Diploma candidates will be asked within their Acceptd profile to state if they also wish to be considered for alternative postgraduate courses. Your course choice is not final; your study length and pathway can be discussed and adjusted with the panel during your assessment.

Specialisms

1. Side-by-side activity alongside internal and/or visiting professors. (Workshops and rehearsals as well as concert activity.)
2. 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.
3. Chamber music – either as member of an existing ensemble(s), or with the aim of establishing new collaborations.
4. Leadership: ensemble direction, principal roles in orchestra, other aspects of mentoring.
5. Recording focus – enrolment on Self-recording and Self-editing elective mandatory.
6. Performer embedded in Composition and Contemporary Music Department (where applicable).
7. A specific project (or projects) resulting in live performance(s) and/or a recording.
8. Ensemble piano partnership development
9. HiP specialisms (repertoire and/or instruments)
10. Extended instrument family specialisms (bass clarinet, etc.)
11. Any compositional specialism (where applicable)

Entry Requirements

• Performance: A performance (or compositional, where applicable) standard at least equivalent to a Distinction at Master’s level.
• 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.

Applying for both the Professional Diploma and Advanced Professional Diploma pathways

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

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

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, simply follow these two steps:

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.

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.

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 two contrasting pieces of your own choice.
• Structure: A piece can be a single movement—for example, a single movement from a concerto, sonata, or suite.
• Accompaniment: Pieces should be performed with accompaniment, unless the work was explicitly written to be performed as an unaccompanied solo item.

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:

• 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.
• Specialist Portfolio / Project Proposals: Any written project proposals, study plans, or recording logs specific to your course level (as detailed above).

Repertoire for International Audition Centres

Please note that the Advanced Artist Diploma is not available 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): Your video portfolio and written proposal will normally be reviewed by the specialist panel before your live audition date. 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.
• Video recordings (video application, or international centres): You must upload one unedited video containing your complete audition performance programme to the Acceptd portal by the designated deadline. Your recording must be captured under clear audio and visual conditions.

Interview

You may participate in a structured conversation with a postgraduate 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.

Please note: Your ultimate course placement remains flexible; the panel may discuss and recommend a different postgraduate pathway during your assessment if they feel it better matches your academic needs.

For more information see auditions.