Seminars and Interview Sessions

Knowing the Top Conservatoires & Performing Art Schools in the UK: Which are the top schools for Music, Drama, and Musical Theatre?

The UK is home to many of the world’s most prestigious conservatoires and performing art schools – including Royal College of Music ^{(ranked #2 in the World)}, Guildhall School of Music & Drama ^(#3), Royal Academy of Music ^(#5), Royal Academy of Dramatic Art ^(#46), Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance ^(#13) and many more! Not only that each institution has its own distinctive strengths and traditions, within each Performing Arts disciplines programmes are also finely categorized by specialisms like Musical Theatre and Acting, and quite often by styles like Classical and Contemporary. How should students choose the school that best matches their interest and abilities?

In this seminar, the Recruitment Managers of Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA) will provide an overview of UK’s leading conservatoires and performing art schools, covering their academic focus, admissions requirements, as well as some success stories of CSVPA graduates!

Application Procedures & Requirements: How to stand out in an Audition? Which schools prefer it in person & live, and which accept pre-recorded audition tapes?

When applying to specialist conservatoires and performing art schools, students are required not only to meet the general academic requirements, but also to pass auditions and interviews – something mainstream schools often provide little support. Applicants are usually asked to submit performance recordings, and in some cases, recordings of specified repertoires or scenes. Preparation for the whole application process should begin one to two years in advance, if not earlier.

The CSVPA representative will outline the common application procedures of UK conservatoires and performing art schools, and share insights from years of experience successfully guiding students into these top institutions. Why do they often recommend that students start preparing at least two to three years ahead? How does this relate to the audition requirements of certain conservatoires? At what stage are qualifications such as Grade 5 Theory and Grade 8 in your principal instrument just essential minimums?

Career Prospects in Music & Performing Arts in the UK: How important are industry connections? Why are there more acting roles for Asian actors in recent years? Is the trend going to continue?

Just like most creative industries around the world, production companies in the UK typically recruit performers and production staff on a project-by-project basis. Many professionals work as “slashers” and regularly return to the cycle of auditions and castings. It is also common for industry practitioners to hold long-term part-time teaching positions at conservatoires and performing art schools – just as many of CSVPA’s tutors do. All of this makes professional networks and connections especially vital.

In this part of the seminar, the CSVPA representative will introduce this unique industry ecosystem and share recent achievements of their successful graduates. How common is it in the UK for orchestras and theatre companies to employ full-time musicians and actors? With the rise of multiculturalism, opportunities for actors and performers of different ethnic backgrounds have grown rapidly in recent years. And that’s partly why, although around 70% of CSVPA students are from the UK, there are Accent Training elements in their programmes, to help students develop versatility and broaden their range as actors.

Programme Highlights: One-Year and Two-Year Music & Performing Arts Foundation

The CSVPA representative will use the Music & Performing Arts Foundation at Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA) as examples, to illustrate how they have successfully prepared students for some of the world’s best conservatoires and performing art schools over the years. The presentation will cover key aspects such as course structure, day-to-day teaching and rehearsal arrangement, entry requirements, scholarships, and university application support, so that students and parents can get a clear picture of how to build the skills, confidence and portfolio needed for success!

• Extended Diploma in Performing Arts (Drama) ^{Two-year, equivalent to A-levels}
• Extended Diploma in Music Performance & Production ^{Two-year, equivalent to A-levels}
• Drama Foundation: Classic & Contemporary Acting ^One-year
• Drama Foundation: Musical Theatre ^One-year
• Music Foundation ^One-year