Admissions
Performance
The Faculty encourages student involvement in practical music (vocal and instrumental) and there are countless opportunities for this at all levels. The orchestras, choirs and small ensembles managed by the Oxford University Music Society are complemented by college music societies and many other University groups. Concert venues range from small chamber recital halls and college chapels to the historic Holywell Music Room and the Sheldonian Theatre.
The Faculty provides financial support for student performance through its Performance Committee, which works closely with the student-run Performance Council. Many public concerts and recitals in which music students appear are subsidised or managed and advertised by the Faculty.
The Faculty promotes a rich programme of events designed to stimulate and support performance within the curriculum. The Faculty's own professional performers are available to offer guidance and there are close links with professional groups and institutions. The Oxford Philomusica, Orchestra in Residence at the University, offers regular masterclasses with visiting international musicians, as well as an instrumental apprenticeship scheme. In addition, the Allegri String Quartet, String Quartet in Residence, provides chamber music coaching for our students, and there are regular masterclasses from early-music groups such as Contrapunctus and the viol consort Phantasm. Contact with well-known personalities from the world of opera and theatre is frequent. The Faculty's own dedicated contemporary-music ensemble, Ensemble ISIS, consists of current students. It combines workshops for the Faculty's student composers with exciting performance opportunities both in the UK and abroad.
Performance and Composition in the Undergraduate Course
The Music syllabus provides the following vocal or instrumental options in performance:
Performance - first-year optional subject.
Solo Performance (a 40-minute recital)- final-year option.
In addition, there are final-year options of a practical test in Choral Performance, Choral Conducting and Chamber Music.
During the year there are many workshop and master class opportunities for performer. Recently there has been a conducting class with Peter Stark,a violin masterclass with Rachel Podger, and a chamber music session led by the Rhodes Piano Trio.
Ensemble ISIS offers workshops and recording opportunities to students taking the composition option at Honour Moderations and Final Honour School. Composition students have also recently taken part in a piano workshop with Joanna McGregor and had their works performed by the BBC Singers and Oxford Philomusica.
Performance Tuition
All undergraduate students are eligible for a grant towards their instrumental or vocal tuition. They schedule their own tuition with a teacher of their choice. Students may continue with existing instrumental teachers if they wish, arrange tuition in Oxford or go to the London Conservatoires. Some Colleges offer, in addition, separate instrumental awards. In any case, students are free to choose which instrument to study for first-year and final-year options. Good orchestral performers may apply for a Philomusica Award, involving performances with the professional Oxford Philomusica Orchestra.
Those who need advanced and specialised tuition, or wish to attend summer courses or masterclasses outside Oxford, may apply for a subsidy from the Joan Conway Fund. This is a bursary or scholarship of up to £750 annually which is available only to music students.
Faculty members are willing to offer advice and support to students interested in performing careers. Information on career opportunities, further performance training, awards and competitions is regularly publicised on the Faculty noticeboard and website.