Auditions

For more information about specific audition requirements, such as the kind of pieces you should play (or present if you are a composer), please take a look at the relevant Department page and on our video auditions page.

Remember also to create your Acceptd profile after you've made your UCAS Conservatoires application. Advice on how to do this is also included in our Department pages.

Candidates are recruited on the basis of their musical abilities and potential. We welcome enquiries and applications from students with disabilities.

Whether you have learning difficulties, mobility problems or a long-term health condition, we want you to feel that you have the support you need to audition at the Academy.

How to tell us about a disability

When filling out your UCAS Conservatoires application, please let us know of any disabilities by using the drop-down menu on the form.

After your application has been processed, the Academy Registry will contact you before the audition to find out how we can assist you.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to get in touch by email admissions@ram.ac.uk.

Our policy

Please be assured that information disclosed to the Academy will be treated in confidence and every effort will be made to meet your needs within the Academy.

For more information, read our access policy.

For details of our equality policy, please see our equality section.

Visit Travelling to the Academy for information about how to get here. The application deadlines are published in the 'Your Application' section.

The information below is relevant for 2024 entry .

Academy auditions are held on 18-21 February 2024 at:

Di Menna Center
450 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018

However, some studies are only auditioned in London or by video - these are shown in the list below and you will need to apply by the relevant deadline for a London audition or video application:

• Opera
• Jazz
• Composition
• Conducting
• Choral Conducting
• Répétiteur
• Research degrees
  

Musical Theatre auditions are only available in London and New York, or by video.

It may not be possible to audition candidates for Harp, Percussion, Organ or Historical Performance at our host venue, so please email admissions@ram.ac.uk before completing your UCAS Conservatoires application. Don’t worry, though, video auditions are another option for these subjects: details of how to apply and what to perform (or present if you are a composer) can be found in the in the 'Audition Requirements' area of the relevant Department pages, and on our video auditions page.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

The application deadline for New York is;

8 January 2024 at 12.00 midday UK time - this is for

• your UCAS Conservatoires application, and also
• your Acceptd portal application profile including:

- referee contact details

- any written requirements required for your course choice.

Please consult our Candidate Guide to Acceptd.

Audition requirements

Audition requirements for New York are the same as for a London audition (details are on the relevant department page), except that the audition length may be different.

All candidates must create an Acceptd profile for their in-person audition, in addition to the UCAS Conservatoires application.

The Acceptd profile does not need to include any recordings, as we are not pre-screening. Please note that Musical Theatre has separate requirements.

Visa advice

If you do not have an EEA or Swiss passport you will probably need a visitor visa to attend an audition in London.

We are happy to help with the process and can provide an invitation letter to support your application. Please contact admissions@ram.ac.uk if you have completed your UCAS Conservatoires application and wish to travel to the Academy. All applicants will be considered for a scholarship award, irrespective of whether they audition in person or by video.

Unfortunately, we are not able to support visa applications for audition venues outside the UK.

For information about visas for study, see Visas and Immigration.

The Academy assesses every person who applies on time, and we receive around 2,500 applications each year. The assessments, whether in-person or via a pre-recorded video, are processed by our Admissions Team and then assessed by several people, depending on how far they progress. The fee covers the costs of those staff. Details about the fees you need to pay are published on the Apply to the Academy page, in the "Application fees" section.

We offer application fee waivers, along with travel fee waivers when we’re holding in-person auditions – you can find out how to apply for a fee waiver here (see "Application fee waivers").

Approach the audition like a concert – arrive in good time, make sure you have everything you will need and dress comfortably. Formal concert dress is not required.

Be prepared – if you’re not ready, it might be better to wait a year.

Try to enjoy yourself – we want you to do your best.

Put the audition in perspective. Whatever the outcome, the world is big and the possibilities endless if you have ability and perseverance.

Practical tips

Playing from memory is not essential, but try not to be ‘glued’ to your music.

It’s a good idea to practise walking in, settling down, and tuning up, and playing in unfamiliar settings in front of friends and family.

November and December are cold months - we recommend you wear gloves on the way here.

Make sure you are not dehydrated or hungry before your audition.

On the day, tune carefully, but try not to take up too much of your audition time tuning up.

The Academy has a pool of accompanists for auditions in London. There is no charge for using an Academy accompanist, and you will be allocated a rehearsal with them in your warm-up time immediately before your audition.

Ensemble Piano candidates should consult the Ensemble Piano audition page for guidance.

Please note, it’s not possible for us to arrange additional rehearsal time before the audition date, allocate accompanists in advance, or receive music copies in advance.

We do not require advance notice of your programme, but if you are not bringing standard repertoire please remember that technically challenging accompaniments can be difficult to master in the rehearsal time allocated before your audition.

When you arrive for your audition, you will be given practice time, usually at least 20 minutes immediately before your audition. If you would like more practice time beforehand, here is a list of commercial practice facilities in London:

• Jaques Samuel Pianos Ltd
  142 Edgware Road, Marble Arch, London W2 2DZ
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 7723 8818
• Peregrine’s Pianos
  137A Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8TU
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 7242 9865
• Kafri Studios
  Arch 357 Laburnum Street, London E2 8BB
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 8616 0233 or mobile +44 (0)7828 254458
  info@kafristudios.co.uk
• Craxton Studios
  14 Kidderpore Avenue, London NW3 7SU
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 7435 2965
• The Music Studios
  29 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2NQ
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 7486 0025
  info@themusicstudios.co.uk

Also see London Rehearsal Studios for other suggestions.

Rehearsal and performance spaces are available to rent at tutti.space, mushRoom and PianoMe.

Audition results will be displayed in your UCAS Conservatoires Hub as soon as possible at the end of the audition session. For our main auditions in December, results are usually available before Christmas.

Understanding your offer

The most common offer made by the Academy is GC (guaranteed conditional), which means that your offer is guaranteed if you meet certain requirements.

Another offer we might make is VC (reserve conditional), which means you are in a reserve pool and that we will contact you if we can convert to a full (GC) offer. This will usually be in spring, and normally no later than the first weeks of the Summer term, though it may be later for Jazz and Musical Theatre candidates.

You can find more details about UCAS offer codes and what they mean here.