This course offers a wealth of performance opportunities and introduces you to a wide range of musical studies at advanced level. You’ll study with one of our expert professional instrumental/vocal teachers and – with the guidance of our experienced performance staff and resident repetiteur – develop your skills in technical proficiency, presentation and interpretation in musical performance.
You’ll be encouraged and supported to take an interest in performance research to enhance your musical and artistic development. Through individual lessons, performance classes and masterclasses, you’ll prepare and perform a recital as the major part of your course, and also explore the challenges of performing a large-scale musical structure through the concerto/song-cycle/extended work module. You’ll also be introduced to and supported to apply performance research methods, enabling you to situate your performance interests and repertoire within a wider academic context, and will devise and undertake an applied performance project that might focus on performance practice, ensemble work, pedagogic studies, doubling on a second instrument, or another area of performance-related interest.
The course is ideal if you wish to pursue advanced performance studies, or are an existing performer wishing to enhance your skills or undertake continuous professional development. It can also be used as preparation for undertaking a performance-based practice-led PhD .
Why study at Leeds: We are one of the largest schools of music in the country, which brings several benefits to our students. Our size enables us to incorporate an impressive range of specialisms within our curriculum, reflecting our ethos that music is music, regardless of genre or style. We attract a diverse body of students from across the UK and internationally, which gives the School a vibrant community and culture. Decolonisation, equality and inclusivity are embedded within our curriculum so all our students can feel a sense of belonging in the School and can thrive on their course no matter what their background and musical experience.
In the recent national Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) exercise, 93% of our research was considered to be ‘internationally excellent’ or better in terms of its originality, significance and rigour, with 56% rated as ‘world leading’, the highest classification. Our staff expertise feeds directly into our curriculum, with relevant specialisms including:
We work closely with our students, particularly through our active Student Staff Partnership Forum, to ensure that we continue to offer the best possible experience to everyone studying in the School of Music. Our Industrial Advisory Board – an invited body of professionals from across the professional music sector, which includes several alumni within its membership – actively supports the ongoing development of our courses to ensure they deliver the skills and opportunities our students need to prepare them for life after University.
The School of Music is part of a strong musical community at the University of Leeds, and there are numerous Leeds University Union (LUU) clubs and societies that offer opportunities to get involved in music and performance activities. The Leeds University Union Music Society (LUUMS) is one of the Union’s largest societies and boasts ten ensembles including orchestras, choirs, brass and wind ensembles, and a composers’ collective; each one gives regular concerts, and some go on tour. LUUMS is linked to the School of Music as our departmental society, and the School and LUUMS work closely on social events and the promotion of musical opportunities . School of Music students also often participate in other campus-based ense