YOUR AUDITION - Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

YOUR
AUDITION

Welcome
To enable you to demonstrate your full potential at
your audition, we will do our best to make you feel as
comfortable as possible from the moment you arrive at
the college.
Whatever the outcome of your audition, our aim is to
make it a valuable experience for you.
The Admissions Team will be available on the day to
answer any questions and you will also be able to talk to
current students about their experiences at the
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
To help you prepare for your audition, please read the
following guidance notes carefully.

Your Audition
The time on CUKAS Track will be the time of your
audition; you will have access to an individual practice
room in which to warm up for 30 minutes before your
audition starts.
If you wish, we can provide an accompanist at your
audition. There is no additional cost for this.
Normally there are at least two members of staff on an
audition panel. Auditions vary in length, but usually last
between 15 and 30 minutes.
You should take care to select pieces which will allow you
to demonstrate the full extent of your ability in a range
of styles. The panel may also take the opportunity in the
audition to work with you on selected sections from the
works you have performed.
As part of your audition, you may also be asked to
complete a short piece of sight-reading.
Once you have finished your audition you are free to
leave.
In advance of your audition you are required to submit a
30-minute recital programme, indicating one piece you
would like to perform. The panel will then select a further
piece from the list and you will be advised which one
they have selected before you begin your warm-up.
Please see additional guidance on the following page
for variations on this.

Your Audition
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
Harp
Auditions are unaccompanied.
College harps are available to use.
Piano
Performance from memory is advised.
Voice
Audition programmes should include at least one piece
in Italian.
Guitar
Auditions are unaccompanied.
Piano Accompaniment
(PGDip and MA Music Performance only)
You will need to prepare one substantial solo piece to
perform from memory.
In addition, you must perform three of the following
pieces in their original key, for which we will provide a
singer for you to accompany during the audition. You will
be given time with the singer during your warm-up to
practice the chosen pieces.
You must perform either Haydn – With Verdure Clad –
and/or Mozart – Exsultate Jubilate.
And one or two of the following:
Schubert – Lied der mignon (nur wer die zehnsucht
kennt...)
Faure – Les berceaux
Britten – Wagtail and Baby
Please inform us which pieces you have chosen at least
one week in advance of your audition.

Your Audition
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
Woodwind
Orchestral Performance applicants should include in their
audition programmes the first movement from a Mozart
concerto for their instrument. In addition, they will need
to prepare the following orchestral extracts:
Flute
Beethoven: Leonore No 3
Debussy: Prelude, a l’apres-midi d’un faune
Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scherzo)
Oboe
Rossini: La Scala di Seta
R. Strauss: Don Juan
Tchaikovsky: 4th Symphony (2nd movement)
Clarinet
Beethoven: Symphony 6 (1st movement)
Kodaly: Galanta Dances
Tchaikovsky: Symphony 6 (1st movement)
Bassoon
Brahms: Violin Concerto (2nd mvt, 2nd bsn part)
Mozart: Marriage of Figaro (Overture)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony 5 (3rd movement)
Brass
Orchestral Performance applicants should also prepare
the following orchestral extracts:
French Horn
Shostakovich: Symphony No 5
Dvorak: Symphony No 9 (4th mvt)
Rossini: Overture Barber of Seville
Trumpet
Mahler: Symphony No 5 (1st movement)
Stravinsky: Petrouchka (1911)
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake ‘Dance Napolitaine’
Trombone
Mahler: Symphony No 3 (1st mvt)
Ravel: Bolero
Saint Saens: Symphony No 3
Tuba
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (both parts)
Mahler: Symphony No 1
Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night’s Dream (Overture)

Your Audition
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
Percussion
As a minimum requirement, the audition programme
should include unaccompanied items on timpani, snare
drum and xylophone. We will provide instruments for you
to use at your audition, but you will be asked to bring
your own sticks/beaters/mallets.
All MA Applicants
Should submit a piece of recent written work, such as
a 1000-word programme note on a piece of repertoire
relating to their principal study discipline.
All MMus Applicants
Should submit a piece of recent written work, such as a
3000-word essay which compares and contrasts three
recordings of a major work of core repertoire.
Written work needs to be submitted at least one week
before your audition. Please note, if written work is not
submitted, any decision about your application may be
delayed while we wait for you to send it.
Your performance programme and any written work can
be submitted:
By email to
admissions@rwcmd.ac.uk
Or by post to
Music Admissions
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Castle Grounds
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3ER

What Happens Next?
We will let you know the outcome of your audition by
email by Friday 9 December.
If you have any further questions or concerns about
the interview and selection process, please contact our
Admissions Team, who will be glad to help you.
T: +44 (0)29 2039 1361
E: music.auditions@rwcmd.ac.uk

How to Find Us
Unfortunately there is no parking at the college
itself except for disabled parking. However,
there are pay and display car parks either side
of the campus on North Road, and opposite
in the Civic Centre. Please ensure you allow
enough time to park. Alternatively, the college
is located only a 15 minute walk away from
Cardiff Central Train Station. National Express
and Mega Bus both stop outside Cardiff
University’s Student Union, which is a 5 minute
walk away from the college.
www.rwcmd.ac.uk/howtofindus