Guitar

Overview

The Advanced Artist Diploma (AAD) is a one-year course for a select group of instrumentalists at the highest level.

The programme supports development of a range of industry-related skills (as appropriate to your individual profile) with mentoring provided in addition to one-to-one lessons. Successful applicants will be ready to take full advantage of a recording opportunity with world-class production and special release arrangements on major streaming platforms and/or record labels.

AAD students will be required to self-manage critical aspects of the delivery of the recording, and the range of work undertaken during the programme, in line with professional expectations. The programme is at level 8 of the FHEQ, which demands a high level of autonomy and initiative, as well as highly developed artistry.

This course is right for you if you are on the cusp of an international career and aim to develop musical collaborations at a corresponding level. 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.

Entry Requirements

• Performance: You are required to have a performance standard at least equivalent to a Distinction at Master’s level.
• Academic: You are also required to have 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.

You will also need to include the following three items in your Acceptd profile:

• a repertoire list (repertoire that has been at performance level or that is being prepared for performance, or has been learnt recently, including the titles of the pieces as well as the composers' names).
• recording portfolio (a text list of your professional recordings, with links or details of the CD/DVD where possible)
• your ideas for the year, including a list of professional engagements to which you are already committed

Assessment

The Advanced Artist Diploma is only auditioned by in-person attendance at our London auditions in December.

Advanced Artist Diploma applicants may also take part in a formal Academic Assessment interview.

During this session, you will meet with a member of the postgraduate academic staff to discuss:

• Your individual study plans and artistic ambitions.
• A detailed review of your project proposal, evaluating the scope and academic rigor of your intended creative outcomes.

Please note: Your performance and academic reviews are handled in tandem to determine overall suitability for this highly specialised level of study.

See entry requirements for full information, including English language requirements.

Alumni and student successes

We’re proud to see Academy guitarists lead the way with diverse, international careers. You can see some of their recent successes below:

• Tohi Harada (postgraduate)
  2025: 1st Prize in the Ivor Mairants Guitar Award, administered by the Worshipful Company of Musicians; Awarded 'Grand Prize' and 'Rodrigo Prize' at the 14th Joaquín Rodrigo Guitar Competition in Olsztyn, Poland; Special commendation at the Viseu International Guitar Competition (Portugal)
  2026: 1st Prizes in the Segovia Academy (online) International Guitar Competition (Italy) and Dutch Guitar Foundation’s International Guitar Competition (Gröningen)
  Countess of Munster and Hattori Foundation Recital Artist
  Winner of the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Prince’s Prize and New Elizabethan Award
• Georgi Dimitrov (postgraduate)
  Acclaimed Linn recording Tales of Being, celebrating the anniversaries of John Dowland and Hans Werner Henze
  Co-Holder of the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ New Elizabethan Award: Wigmore Hall debut and appearance on BBC Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’, followed by performances for City Music Society, Surrey Hills International Music Festival, Octagon Norwich, St Martins in the Fields and Saffron Hall
• Petar Jovanovic (undergraduate); Georgi Dimitrov, Kacper Dworniczak and Tohi Harada (postgraduates)
  Awarded Julian Bream Trust scholarships for 2025-26
• Zoë Meadowcroft and Maryna Vosmirova (undergraduates) and Goncalo Maia Caetano (alum)
  Selected by the International Guitar Foundation for its Young Artist Platform
• Gonçalo Maia Caetano and Gus McQuade (alums)
  Volt Duo selected for the prestigious Kirckman Society Concert Series
• Gus McQuade and Eleanor Grant (alums)
  City Music Foundation Young Artists
  Acclaimed debut recording Seasons in Time on the Deux-Elles label
• Declan Hickey (alum)
  Invited to give a lecture at the Guitar Foundation of America’s 2025 academic symposium
• Sungbin Cho (alum)
  Debut recording Opening the Doors on the Deux-Elles label
• Plínio Fernandes (alum)
  Decca Gold Recording Artist. UK and USA tours with violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti
• Alexandra Whittingham (alum)
  Recording contract with Decca, and release of debut album Letters from Paris to outstanding acclaim in the Gramophone and BBC Music magazines, reaching 2nd place in UK Specialist Classical Album charts
• Giacomo Susani (alum)
  Carnegie Hall debut in New York performing his own Guitar Concerto; Artistic Director of the Barco Teatro Festival in Padova (Italy). Acclaimed recordings of his own music on the Stradivarius and Linn labels
• Dimitrios Soukaras (alum)
  Acclaimed debut recording with singer Lotte Betts-Dean on the Delphian label
  World Premiere of Leo Brouwer’s Concerto of Corinthos at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall with the Athens State Orchestra
• Michael Butten (alum)
  Member of the Mela Quartet on their USA tour as winners of the Guitar Foundation of America’s Ensemble Competition
• Rafael Aguirre (alum)
  International soloist and recording artist for Naxos, MDG and Warner Classics. Brilliant debut in the BBC Proms 2026 performing Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the National Orchestra of Spain

Auditions

We want you to view your audition as a recital rather than a rigid test. Our panel is looking for your unique musical personality, your technical command, and your potential for growth. Try to relax, focus on your storytelling through the instrument, and let us hear who you are as a musician.

Your Audition Repertoire

For your postgraduate audition, you must prepare an advanced performance programme that highlights your technical mastery, musical breadth, and interpretive capability on the classical guitar. 

Repertoire Guidelines:

• You should present a contrasted solo programme of four pieces from the following list.
  • a contrapuntal work written between c1500-1750
  • a work from the 19th or 20th century in 1st movement sonata form
  • a theme with variations (from any period)
  • a work, or movement(s), from the late 20th or early 21st century
  • a dance movement (from any period)

Note for Guitar Duos: Established guitar duos are also welcome to apply at postgraduate level. The duo must perform a programme of three contrasted duo pieces, and additionally, each individual member of the duo must present one solo piece. Both partners must submit matching applications.

Repertoire for International Audition 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

1. Delivery Options & Practical Assessment

• In-Person (London): You will perform your prepared contrasting programme live for the specialist faculty 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 within the 30-minute slot.
• Video recordings (video application, or international centres): You must upload one unedited video containing your complete audition programme to the Acceptd portal by the designated deadline. Ensure your camera framing allows the panel a completely clear and unobstructed view of both your left-hand fingerboard work and right-hand plucking technique.
• Sight-reading: All in-person guitar auditions include a mandatory sight-reading test in the audition room. This is designed to assess your rhythmic precision, harmonic awareness, and spontaneous interpretative processing of unfamiliar guitar notation.

2. Postgraduate Interview

Candidates may participate in a structured conversation with a postgraduate programme tutor to discuss your study plans, artistic philosophies, and professional goals. 

For candidates who submit a video audition, you may also be invited to an online interview with the Head of Guitar.

Your digital application profile on the Acceptd portal must contain:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): A current copy of your CV detailing your education, masterclasses, and concert history.
• 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.

For more information see auditions.