Accompaniment (MA)

Alongside a team of highly experienced professional accompanists and chamber musicians, you will engage in a range of collaborative opportunities to prepare you for this demanding profession working with students and lecturers from all departments at RCS.

Developing core accompaniment skills form the foundation of the Accompaniment programme. In addition to the extensive development of standard accompaniment repertoire, additional supporting skills are also cultivated in regular group classes including; sight-reading, orchestral reductions, transposition, figured bass, choral accompaniment, vocal and instrumental coaching and languages.

MA Accompanists also enjoy extensive performing opportunities, whether in concerts, competitions or accompanying students. The programme provides a wide range of choices for assessment, including studio recordings, commissions of new collaborative works, independent projects and full-length recitals.

Students who have graduated in this course have gone on to have professional careers as accompanists and work for a wide range of institutions and organisations throughout the world. Graduates also work in the fields of music education, arts management and administration, and music in the community, where an MA/MMus degree is highly valued.

Please note, the international deadline for this programme is the 2nd December 2024, but we would encourage applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2024 to be guaranteed consideration for the first round of scholarship.

Overseas Auditions If you want to audition at one of our overseas locations, you must submit your application by the 2nd October 2024. We may not be able to audition certain instruments at our overseas auditions, please see our website for more information. Where required, all applicants will need to provide their own instruments (except piano) and accompanist for the audition. Details of audition dates and locations can be found on our website, under the 'How to apply' section. Please note our locations are subject to change at short notice. if you choose a location that becomes unavailable we will be in touch to offer an alternative, this will likely be a recorded submission.

Curriculum Review We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate music programmes starting in 2025, these courses are currently designated 'subject to validation'. This is standard practice during curriculum review periods. The outcome of this process, may mean there are some changes to how your programme is delivered.