To be considered for a place at The Purcell School, please complete an application form and send this to admissions@purcell-school.org, together with the submissions required for your instrument(s), as outlined below. Our application form is available on our website.

Applications open from the September prior to the academic year of entry (ie September 2022 for entry in September 2023). There is no deadline for applications, but as these are considered as they arrive, there are advantages in applying early in the process. Candidates are assessed in relation to their age and potential at the time of application.

For families in serious financial difficulty for whom the application and/or audition fee would prevent them applying, please contact us to discuss how we can help.

For further information about admissions, please call 01923 331 107 or email admissions@purcell-school.org.

Applications

All application forms must be returned to us with:

  • A non-returnable application fee of £35 – click here to pay online.
  • A written recommendation from the applicant’s music teacher(s).
  • A recent passport-style photograph of the applicant.

Your submission must include the following, depending on your instrument:

  • For Classical instrumentalists: evidence of a recent performance (in the form of a YouTube link or similar). For first study pianists, pieces should be performed from memory. The recording should contain:
    • two contrasting pieces on the first instrument, at least one of which should be accompanied (except in the case of piano, organ, accordion, harp, percussion or guitar); and
    • one piece on any supporting instrument.
  • For Jazz applicants: evidence of a recent performance (in the form of a YouTube link or similar). The recording should contain:
    • two contrasting pieces on the first instrument, at least one of which should be accompanied, and at least one of which should be a jazz standard; and
    • one piece on any supporting instrument.
    • if an accompanist is unavailable, please use a suitable backing track from YouTube.
    • the recording should contain a large percentage of improvisation, and rhythm section instrumentalists should include evidence of ‘comping’ as well as soloing.
  • For Commercial and Popular Music applicants: evidence of a recent performance (in the form of a YouTube link or similar). The recording should contain:
    • two pieces of contrasting musical style on the first instrument, at least one of which should be a non-original song and at least one of which should be accompanied and; and
    • one piece on any supporting instrument (optional).
    • if an accompanist is unavailable, please use a suitable backing track from YouTube
    • the recording should contain some improvisation, and rhythm section instrumentalists should include evidence of ‘comping’ as well as soloing.
    • instrumental/vocal performances should be of a minimum grade 5 equivalent standard. At audition, students would be required to show evidence of music theory skill through sight reading and aural tests.
  • For Composers:
    • three compositions of any genre, style or length, one of which should be written out by hand.
    • Ideally, please also submit one of the pieces as a recording (we are happy to waive this for younger applicants).
    • If you are applying for composition as a second study, please submit two compositions, as above.
  • For Audio Production applicants: a portfolio of a range of original work as .wav files developed during the last year:
    • these can include compositions using synthesis, sampling, creative FX and multi-track recording.
    • from this portfolio the candidate should specify two contrasting pieces, and for these pieces only detail the equipment used (including DAW), a description of the work process involved, how and why specific FX and processors are used, sampling techniques used, synthesis techniques used and recording techniques employed.

Please note, if using Google Chrome to complete the application form:

  • Fill out your PDF. Click a text field in the PDF and type in your answer, then repeat with the PDF’s other text fields until you’ve filled out the whole PDF
  • In the top right corner, there will be a ‘Print’ button (or use Ctrl+P)
  • Once the ‘print’ pop up window has appeared, change the printing ‘Destination’ to ‘Save as PDF’

To complete the application form online using a browser, please use Chrome or Internet Explorer (not Safari).