Guitar

Overview

Gap year students are considered as fully-enrolled members of the Academy’s student body, and have equal access to the Academy’s resources (library, computers, practice rooms etc).

This course is for you if you are about to complete your secondary school (High School) studies and either wish to spend a year at the Academy before taking up a full-time undergraduate programme of study at another institution, or if you would like to receive Academy training but do not require a full programme of study that leads to a degree.

The course principles are:

• To enable students to benefit from one year of conservatoire education
• To provide a tailor-made course of study according to the strengths and needs of each individual student
• To offer the same performance opportunities provided for degree students (with the approval of the Academic Tutor and Head of Programme)
• To offer appropriate academic subjects in consultation with the Academic Tutor and Head of Programme
• To assess practical and/or academic progress by examination
• To provide a transcript of studies showing completed modules (but no degree or other award)

Entry Requirements

• Performance/Composition: High standard of performing potential or composition, strong musicianship, and good aural skills.
• Music Exams: Formal exams are not required, but successful performers are typically at a Grade 8 Distinction level or higher.
• Music Theory: Grade 6 level knowledge is recommended before starting if you aren't taking school music exams.
• Keyboard Skills: No formal minimum required (unless it's your Principal Study), though Grade 5 piano is desirable to support general musicianship.

See Entry Requirements for full academic and international criteria.

Recent Alumni & Student Successes

We’re proud to see Academy guitarists lead the way with diverse, international careers. Some of their recent successes include:

• Tohi Harada (undergraduate)
  Awarded First Prize at the 2025 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
• Declan Hickey (alum)
  Awarded Second Prize at the 2025 Ivor Mairants Guitar Award
• Plínio Fernandes (alum)
  Second recording Bacheando released as an exclusive Decca Gold Recording Artist
• Alexandra Whittingham (alum)
  Recording contract with Decca
• Giacomo Susani (alum)
  Carnegie Hall debut in New York performing his own Guitar Concerto; Artistic Director of the Barco Teatro Festival in Padova (Italy)
• Michael Butten (alum)
  2nd Prize at the Francisco Tárrega competition in Benicasim (Spain); new CD, issued by First Hand Records, of music from the two Elizabethan ages
• Maryna Vosmirova and Ernest Syrota (undergraduates); Declan Hickey, Davide Magni and Goncalo Maia Caetano (postgraduates)
  Selected by the International Guitar Foundation for its Young Artist Platform
• Goncalo Maia Caetano (undergraduate)
  2nd Prize in the 'Gallery of Guitars' international competition (Scotland)
• Georgi Dimitrov (postgraduate)
  Naxos CD and solo recital of works by Bach at the Leipzig Bach Festival
  Co-Holder of the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ New Elizabethan Award 2024-25
• Petar Jovanovic and Tohi Harada (undergraduates); Georgi Dimitrov (postgraduate)
  Awarded the Julian Bream Trust scholarships for 2024-25
• Gus McQuade (postgraduate) and Eleanor Grant (alum; soprano/double-bass)
  Selected by the City Music Foundation for its Young Artists scheme

Auditions

Our department focuses on nurturing your unique musical voice, providing a comprehensive curriculum that prepares you for the modern concert platform, ensemble performance, and beyond.

We know that auditions can feel daunting, but we want you to succeed. Our panel is not looking for a flawless, stress-free exam; we view your audition as a recital. We are looking for your individual artistry, musical potential, and how you recover if things don't go perfectly. Relax, be yourself, and let us see who you are as a musician.

Your Audition Repertoire

For your undergraduate audition, you must prepare a contrasted solo programme of three pieces selected from the options below. Your programme should showcase your technical foundation and stylistic versatility.

Choose Three Pieces from This Selection:

• A contrapuntal work written between c. 1500–1750.
• A work from the 19th or 20th century in first-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).

Audition Formats & What to Expect

• In-Person (London): Live guitar auditions typically last around 30 minutes. Because live audition time is strictly limited, please do not be alarmed if the panel interrupts you before you finish a piece—this is standard procedure to ensure we hear a balance of your repertoire. Your live audition will also include a sight-reading component.
• Video & International Centres: If you are auditioning via video recording, you must upload your performance via the Acceptd portal. Following the review of your footage, you may be invited to an online interview with the Head of Guitar.

Academic Interview & Aural Skills Assessment

In addition to your performance, all undergraduate applicants participate in an academic interview. This is a conversational session designed to find out more about your musical interests, aspirations, and tastes.

As part of this interview, you will be given a short extract of music to discuss and will complete an Aural Skills Assessment. This assessment features a sight-singing test alongside practical exercises to test your fundamental musicianship:

• Singing the middle notes of a played chord.
• Identification of intervals.
• Sight-reading of rhythms.
• Simultaneous polyrhythms: Sight-reading two different rhythms at the same time (singing one rhythm while clapping the other simultaneously).

Please note: Specimen tests are not issued in advance.

For more information see auditions.