Saxophone

Professional Diploma (Performance)
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Overview

The Academy’s Professional Diploma 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.

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.

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

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 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 the Professional Diploma. 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 the Professional Diploma 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.

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.

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