Audition Advice

1

Given the unforeseen travel delays sometimes experienced by candidates in the past, please aim to arrive earlier than your official arrival time, especially if a long journey is involved.

2

Download and print travel and parking directions (please note that there is no parking at the Conservatoire itself, though a multi-storey carpark is a short walk away).

3

When you arrive for your audition, please enter the building via the main entrance. Here you will see the auditions reception where you will register for your audition and be given details about your audition rooms.

4

At the auditions reception we will also detail any tours, events and activities you might be interested in attending throughout the day.

Good luck with your audition preparation. We look forward to meeting you.

If you choose a virtual audition instead of a live in-person audition, there are two stages. The first stage is to submit your recording. Please be aware that you may not progress beyond this stage. For applicants who progress to the second stage, you will be invited to attend a virtual interview, details of which will come to you via the UCAS Conservatoires, so please keep a close eye on your UCAS Conservatoires track.

All applicants invited to the second stage of the process will need access to a device with a screen, microphone and a webcam. A tablet or laptop with an inbuilt microphone and webcam will work well, but you can also use a computer with an internal or external webcam and microphone for your virtual audition. A smartphone with an inbuilt webcam and microphone can also be used by any applicant who will not be required to perform sight reading.

Performance applicants: you may be asked to review a short study/ sight reading to perform to the panel and so you will need access to a device with a screen 7inches (17cm) or larger for this part of your virtual audition.

If you are concerned about the technology you have access to in order to participate in the second stage of a virtual audition, please contact us: conservatoire.admissions@bcu.ac.uk.

We know that you will have lots of questions about stage 2 of a virtual audition so we have prepared some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you prepare.

1

Ensure you have access to a quiet and safe space. If you will be attending your virtual audition at home, spaces like kitchens, dining rooms or living rooms will work best.

2

Please make sure there is enough light so we can clearly see you during this stage of your virtual audition.

3

You will need a secure internet connection and access to the required video conferencing platform, details of which will be emailed to you with your invitation to this stage of your audition.

4

Make sure your device is fully charged and/or is plugged into a power source.

5

You may want to test your camera and microphone before this stage of your virtual audition to avoid any potential technical difficulties. Performance applicants – you may also want to practice reading music via your chosen device to prepare for the sight-reading element.

Good luck with your audition preparation. We look forward to meeting you.

Please download and read our Audition Recording Guide as you prepare to make your audition video. This detailed guide will help you meet our audition requirements and help answer questions you may have about making and submitting your audition video.

UK Applicants: once your application has been submitted, we will contact you via e-mail with information on how to upload your audition recording/portfolio links to the MySRS portal.

Audition recordings and portfolios should be submitted within two weeks of receipt of acknowledgement communication.

International Applicants: please submit your portfolio or audition video links and supporting documents to conservatoire.international@bcu.ac.uk.

For more information, please visit our Virtual Auditions page

We understand that not all of our applicants will have access to the same technology so please be assured that the technology you use to make your audition recording or attend your virtual interview will not put you at a disadvantage.

Our staff are highly skilled at assessing potential via virtual auditions and interviews and will be looking for potential over perfection. However, if you are still concerned about the technology you have access to, please contact us: conservatoire.admissions@bcu.ac.uk.