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)
Please note that this course is not eligible for a UK Student Route visa.
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.
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
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 recordings (video application, or international centres): You must upload your performance recordings to the Acceptd portal. 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. Video candidates may be invited to an online interview with the Head of Guitar.
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.
Academic Interview & Aural Skills Assessment
Undergraduate applicants may 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 practical exercises to test your fundamental musicianship:
- Singing the middle notes of a played chord.
- Sight-singing a test melody.
- 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.