John Cranmer Director of Music Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama UCAS Conservatoires John Cranmer Director of Music Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

UK Conservatoire Provision The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is one of nine conservatoires in the UK. Birmingham Conservatoire Leeds College of Music Royal Academy of Music Royal College of Music Royal Northern College of Music Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Conservatoire training Conservatoire vs University (4 yrs v 3yrs) Mission - vocational Characteristics: practice-based Industry Models of training Learning & Teaching Professional placements Purpose-built facilities

RWCMD Undergraduate Destinations 2015 Postgraduate Studies in Music 40% Work / Trials / Freelancing 30% Teacher Training (PGCE) 5% Peripatetic Teaching 15% Sound Studio / Music Technology 2.5% Other (incl. gap years) 5% Armed Services 2.5%

Skills for Employment Working Independently Team Working Presentation Communication Leadership Adaptability Tact & Diplomacy

UCAS Conservatoires (formerly CUKAS) Eight of the conservatoires use UCAS Conservatoires and Guildhall School of Music & Drama sits outside and take applications directly. For Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama applicants for Acting courses also apply through UCAS Conservatoires. www.ucas.com/conservatoires

Applications Dates & Fees Entry Sept 2018 Music Drama Open : July 2017 Open : September 2017 Close : 2nd October 2017 Close : 15th January 2018 Application Fee: £24 (2016) Applicants can apply to up to SIX conservatoires (UCAS Conservatoires) and FIVE universities (UCAS Undergraduate). Each Conservatoire also charges an audition fee and this payment is made at the time of application.

TRACK Account Once an applicant has completed the application form, they will have their own personal TRACK account. A TRACK account enables applicants to: Follow the progress of their application View details of any auditions they have been invited to Change postal address, email address and/or telephone number Make additional choices Reply to offers Withdraw an application

Conservatoire Entry Requirements Each conservatoire has its own entry requirements and these can be found on the course pages of individual Conservatoire websites. At RWCMD we expect instrumental and vocal candidates to be able to demonstrate musical ability equivalent to that required to gain a Distinction at ABRSM Grade VIII. Composers will be asked to send examples of their creative work to discuss at interview. Candidates who are successful at audition/interview are usually expected to gain at least two A-Levels including Music (or equivalent qualifications) prior to entry. Equivalent qualifications include Scottish Highers, BTEC National Diploma/Certificate, WBQ, International Baccalaureate, Advanced GNVQ, AVCE or Advanced Diploma (Level 3). ABRSM theory qualifications at Grade VI or above may also be considered as an alternative to A-Levels. In any case, the minimum conditions attached to any offer of a place are based on individual applications/auditions, and will often be higher than the minimum requirements stated above.

The Music Audition at RWCMD   For Music, all applicants who meet the minimum entry requirements will be invited for an audition/interview (an auditions for vocal and instrument applicants and an interview for composers) This usual takes place in November. At RWCMD we aim to give students about one month’s notice prior to audition/interview. Each Conservatoire has its own audition/interview guidance. RWCMD’s guides can be found at wwww.rwcmd.ac.uk/auditions. At RWCMD, before the audition instrumental applicants typically have a 20 minute warm-up (10 minutes of which will be with an accompanist). Auditions typically last c.25 minutes to a panel consisting of TWO members of specialist staff. Applicants for vocal studies courses follow the same basic process, except a two-round structure is used. The first round takes place in small groups after which successful applicants are recalled for an individual audition later the same day. Composition applicants have an interview with two members of specialist staff during which the submitted portfolio is discussed along with a range of issues relating to new music and individual career aspirations. We aim to relay the outcome of the audition/interview within two weeks.

Drama Courses: Application and Selection Typically after the period allotted to Music selection processes Interviews (Stage Management) Portfolios (Design) Workshops & recalls (Acting)

RWCMD Contacts: john.cranmer@rwcmd.ac.uk admissions@rwcmd.ac.uk andrea.jones@rwcmd.ac.uk BMus (Hons) Course Leader ula.gardiner@rwcmd.ac.uk paula.gardiner@rwcmd.ac.uk BMus (Hons) Jazz Course Leader