Faculty of Performing Arts

In order to be considered for enrolment into the Master of Composition programme, all prospective students should meet both the educational and audition requirements.

Audition: Portfolio Submission and Interview

• All applicants are to submit a portfolio of at least two, but no more than five, contrasting examples of their compositions.


• All applicants are required to submit their portfolio to the Students Admissions Office at least 4 weeks in advance of their scheduled audition.


• Written scores may be submitted as PDF files. Do not send Sibelius files unless they are accompanied by PDF files of the same material. Recordings should be in a file format that can be read in VLC or Windows Media Player.


• Individual works should be clearly indexed on the accompanying documentation. All recordings should be clearly labelled with your name and the title of the piece.


• Applicants whose portfolios demonstrate potential will be invited to an admission interview.


• On the day of the audition, you may submit your work as written scores, recordings or a combination of the two. Please ensure that written music is clear and legible with full information of instrumentation, scoring and performance details.


• Additionally, applicants will be required to submit a personal statement (250 – 350 words) to support their application for the Master of Composition programme. The personal statement should be based on the following questions:
  • Why are you applying for the Master of Composition programme, based on your ambitions and interests?
  • What skills do you possess that make you suitable for the rigorous demands of the programme?


• Applicants will require two professional references emailed directly to NAFA Admissions.


• Current NAFA graduating students are not required to submit personal statement and references.


• All applicants will be asked about their intentions and expectations of the programme, as well as how the Master of Composition programme will be useful to their future plans.


• Typical questions you may be asked during your interview include:
  • Why do you want to study at NAFA?
  • What are your musical interests?
  • What do you think you need to do most to improve your writing?


• The panel will be looking for evidence of both a talent for composition and the ability to realise effectively your ideas in a variety of forms and media.


• Though live auditions are preferred, an online interview may be arranged by the Student Admissions Office for applicants who are unable to attend a live audition.

Audition Date
4 to 8 December 2023
26 to 29 February 2024
27 to 28 April 2024
19 May 2024
3 – 7 June 2024 (final audition for AY2024)

Note: You will be notified of the outcome of your application 4 to 6 weeks after your portfolio interview or audition. Some application outcomes may take longer than expected.

Applicants are required to have at least:

• A relevant undergraduate degree from RCM-NAFA or a recognised institution, usually in Music
• Degree transcripts must indicate passing grades in equivalent RCM-NAFA Bachelor of Music modules

Applicants whose qualifications do not conform to the above requirements (such as those with relevant experience or prior learning) may be considered on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, approval by the Royal College of Music will be required prior to final acceptance into the programme.

 

Applicants whose qualifications do not conform to the above requirements (such as those with relevant experience or prior learning) may be considered on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, approval by the Royal College of Music will be required prior to final acceptance into the programme.

An English Language proficiency* of at least:

Entry Into	IELTS	TOEFL - iBT	PTE ACADEMIC	DUOLINGO
Master	5.5	71	42	95

Other qualifications equivalent to any of the above.

*Waived for NAFA applicants who have successfully completed NAFA's Bachelor of Music. Non-NAFA applicants who have successfully completed a recognised and approved Diploma qualification or higher, where the language of instruction was English, may be given a waiver on a case-by-case basis.

 

In order to be considered for enrolment into the Master of Performance programme, all prospective students should meet both the educational and audition requirements.

Mode of Audition

The audition will be done live with an audition panel. Applicants residing overseas are to submit a video recording at least 4 weeks before the scheduled audition. If they successfully pass the video screening, they will be invited to attend the live audition.

Audition Requirements

We understand that auditions are a significant milestone on every applicant’s journey towards a career as a conservatoire musician. The guidance below will help you prepare to the best of your abilities and make you aware of what will happen at your audition.

• Your audition will be recorded and may be reviewed by the appropriate Head of Faculty from the RCM.
• Applicants should present a varied programme and show a range of styles, periods and characters.
• Please note these specific audition requirements for each faculty of study:
  
  Keyboard Studies
  Piano applicants should prepare a varied programme of at least 50 minutes. The programme should include an advanced étude and must be performed from memory.
  
  Orchestral Studies
  String instrumental applicants should prepare all of the following:
  • one significant movement from a concerto composed after 1800
  • a contrasting piece of your choice
  
  Brass, woodwind and percussion applicants should prepare a programme of two contrasting pieces at a standard reflective of your artistry, expressive and technical competency.
  
  It would be preferred if at least one of these works was from memory, but it is not compulsory.
  
  Vocal Studies
  Vocal studies is not offered in AY2024/25.
  
  Chinese Instrumental Studies
  Chinese instrument applicants should prepare all of the following:
  • One significant movement of a concerto, or a work written originally for the solo instrument and orchestra (一首协奏曲)
  • A chuan tong piece from standard repertoire (一首传统乐曲)
  • A piece written after 1970 (一首创作乐曲（1970年后))
  • You must perform your programme from memory


• During the live auditions, the panel will listen up to 20 minutes of your programme. For video submission, the video recordings should contain the full programme based on the specified audition requirements.


• Live auditionees should bring a list of the repertoire studied in depth in recent years as well as proof of recent public performances along to the audition.


• If you are a current NAFA student applying for a postgraduate performance or composition course, you may submit a recording of your graduation recital, in lieu of a live audition.


• Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement (250 – 350 words) to support their application for the Master of Performance programme. The personal statement should be based on the following questions:
  • Why are you applying for the Master of Performance programme, based on your ambitions and interests?
  • What skills do you possess that make you suitable for the rigorous demands of the programme?


• Applicants will require two professional references emailed directly to NAFA Admissions.


• Current NAFA graduating students are not required to submit personal statement and references.


• Non-pianists are required to bring along their accompanists if their chosen pieces require accompaniment. A list of NAFA's Official Accompanists would be made available to applicants along with their audition details. There will be a fee payable directly to the Accompanist.


• All instrumentalists except percussionists and pianists are required to bring their principal study instrument for the audition.


• Applicants cannot bring a page-turner, their teacher, or a translator into their audition. The only people in the audition room will be the applicant, the accompanist and the audition panel. As our programmes are taught in English, we expect applicants to be able to communicate in English at their audition.


• Typical questions you may be asked during your interview include:
  • Why do you want to study at NAFA?
  • What are your musical interests?
  • What do you think you need to do most to improve your performance?

Live auditions in Singapore
Live auditions in Singapore are usually held in the months of December, February and April.

Audition Date
4 to 8 December 2023
26 to 29 February 2024
27 to 28 April 2024
19 May 2024
3 – 7 June 2024 (final audition for AY2024)

Live auditions in China

Audition Date
11 – 12 Nov 2023
12 – 13 Mar 2024

Note: You will be notified of the outcome of your application 4 to 6 weeks after your portfolio interview or audition. Some application outcomes may take longer than expected.

Guidelines for Video Recording:

• The recording should be a clear and accurate representation of the performer’s playing. The performance must be recorded in one continuous take, and the video is not to be edited.
• The camera should be stationary for the performance of each work.
• The video should show the performer in full body if possible.
• The video should be recorded no more than six months prior to the scheduled audition.
• The video recording files should be named with the title of the pieces.

 

Applicants are required to have at least:

• A relevant undergraduate degree from RCM-NAFA or a recognised institution, usually in Music
• Degree transcripts must indicate passing grades in equivalent RCM-NAFA Bachelor of Music modules

Applicants whose qualifications do not conform to the above requirements (such as those with relevant experience or prior learning) may be considered on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, approval by the Royal College of Music will be required prior to final acceptance into the programme.

 

Applicants whose qualifications do not conform to the above requirements (such as those with relevant experience or prior learning) may be considered on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, approval by the Royal College of Music will be required prior to final acceptance into the programme.

An English Language proficiency* of at least:

Entry Into	IELTS	TOEFL - iBT	PTE ACADEMIC	DUOLINGO
Master	5.5	71	42	95

Other qualifications equivalent to any of the above.

*Waived for NAFA applicants who have successfully completed NAFA's Bachelor of Music. Non-NAFA applicants who have successfully completed a recognised and approved Diploma qualification or higher, where the language of instruction was English, may be given a waiver on a case-by-case basis.