Brass Department (Undergraduate)
Our Brass department offers a wide ranging and inclusive learning experience, where you will experience lessons, ensemble coaching, and frequent performance opportunities. Performance opportunities include in a variety of groups such as Brass Ensembles, Wind, Opera, Musical Theatre and Symphony Orchestras as well as side-by-side with the foremost professional performers and educators from Scotland and beyond.
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Overview
Led by renowned horn player, conductor, arranger and educator John Logan, the RCS Brass department is an encouraging, vibrant and inclusive space where students are challenged to become the best performers and musicians that they can be. We have a worldwide reputation for training leading musicians and our teaching team includes many of Britain’s finest brass players and educators.
On this programme, you will get a real sense of the demands of the professional musical world. Our classes offer excellent preparation for these challenges with weekly classes in orchestral repertoire as well as the opportunity to form your own ensembles and perform in concerts such as the popular RCS lunchtime concert series.
We also enjoy professional collaborations with Scotland’s major orchestras and run mentoring schemes with the Royal Scottish National Orechestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. We have strong links with all the Instrumental Teaching services throughout Scotland as well as organisations such as the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and Big Noise. You will have the opportunity to frequently experience our tutors performing in professional situations as well as building up an extensive range of professional connections during your studies.
Our course options allow for a flexible approach to the construction of your degree which will support a portfolio of a wide-ranging skill set, such as performance opportunities, teaching techniques, composition amongst others.
We have a smaller department than other conservatoires; large enough to tackle a wide variety of challenging and fulfilling repertoire in all our ensembles but small enough to ensure a tailor-made learning experience for every single student. Throughout your degree, you will have the opportunity to take part in Symphony, Wind, Opera, and Chamber Orchestras, and a diverse range of ensembles including Big Band and RCS Brass Ensembles.
The important details
UK Applicant Deadline:
2 October 2024
International Applicant Deadline:
1 December 2024
Institution Code:
R58
Programme Code:
Performance - 300F OR Joint Principal Study - 301F
Audition Fee:
£65
Application Fee:
£28.50
Why Study Brass at RCS?
The Brass department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland offers unique opportunities to learn, perform, and develop as an artist. Our approach sets us apart, with benefits including:
World-class Teaching
You’ll experience the highest-quality tuition from expert teachers, many of whom are also players in the national artistic companies. You’ll benefit from smaller class sizes allowing tutors more time to dedicate individual attention to each student.
Professional Partnerships
Through our industry connections, you’ll have access to mentoring schemes with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera and Scottish Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s Professional Experience Scheme to learn from industry professionals. Additionally you’ll have the opportunity to rehearse with, and obtain feedback from, players of national orchestras.
Individual Lessons
You’ll receive an unparalleled 40.5 hours of principal study tuition and supporting studies classes each academic year. It is possible to receive lessons from tutors in various musical styles, such as Jazz, amongst many other options.
International Performing Opportunities
Our ensembles give concerts regularly at home and abroad; recent overseas performance opportunities have included concerts in China, Malta, Germany and Brazil as well as performances at the Scottish Parliament and on the BBC.
Graduate Destinations
Our department produces excellent graduate employment success, with many of our students obtaining employment with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. In the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey 2019/20, 96% of RCS School of Music respondents were in work or further study.
Cross-Collaboration Performance
You’ll have performance opportunities with other departments including jazz and ballet. You can also take advantage of learning within this unique Scottish conservatoire and undertake a module within traditional music, enabling you to broaden your repertoire, musicality and ensemble arrangement practices
Visiting Artists
You’ll experience regular visits from nationally and internationally recognised educators and artists from all brass disciplines such as visiting Professor and world-renowned soloist, Ian Bousfield.
John Webb Collection
As a student at RCS, you’ll have access to the Conservatoire’s Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, originating before World War II, which includes the John Webb Collection of over 450 historical brass instruments.
Meet the Staff
Instrumental and Ensemble Coaching Staff
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Tuba
Craig Anderson
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Trombone
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Horn
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Trumpet
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Natural Horn
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Natural Trumpet
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Bass Trombone
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Ophicleide and Cimbasso
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Visiting Specialists
Facilities
The Brass department has access to the many facilities and resources RCS has to offer. As well as a fabulous library and several computer suites, our Brass students have access not only to a purpose-built recording studio but the use of an expert recording producer. Recordings can be made for course assessments and at any time for personal use.
Our large venues are used regularly by brass playing in symphony orchestra, wind orchestra, opera, ballet, musical theatre and chamber-sized ensembles.
Externally you may play in the Glasgow City Halls, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall or the RSNO Centre.
Graduate Destinations
Many Royal Conservatoire brass alumni occupy positions in orchestras and ensembles across the world.
Alumni include:
- Christopher Gough – Former Principal Horn, RSNO
- Kyle MacCorquodale – Principal Bass Trombone, Hallé Orchestra
- Dávur Juul Magnussen – Principal Trombone, RSNO
- Andrew McLean – Associate Principal Horn, RSNO
- Martin Murphy – Associate Principal Horn, RSNO
- Johnny Durrant – Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garde
- Haley Tonner – Horn, Scottish Ballet
- Mark Reynolds – WorldBrass Ensemble, Former Principal Tuba Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra Academy.
- Christopher Dicken – Principal Trumpet Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Luzern Festival Orchestra, Artistic Director WorldBrass Ensemble. Visiting teacher of Natural Trumpet Hochschule for Music Saarbrucken, Trumpet teacher Hochschule for Arts Bremen
- Angela Whelan – Fine Arts Brass Ensemble
Programme Structure
The programme structure for your studies will depend on whether you choose to undertake Brass principal study as part of BMus (Hons) Performance or BMus (Hons) Joint Principal Study. The content and modules for each programme are available on their respective pages:
How to Apply
More information about how to apply, including entry requirements and tuition fee & funding information, is available on either our BMus (Hons) Performance page, or BMus (Hons) Joint Principal Study page, depending on which pathway you are interested in. The specific audition requirements for this principal study are detailed below:
Audition Information
In-person auditions are planned to take place at various locations across the world. Should you apply on time, an invitation to book an audition time slot will be sent to you via Acceptd, you must create an Acceptd account regardless of your audition location to be able to select your audition time. An interview will form part of your audition, this is a chance for the panel to find out more about you, as well having an opportunity for you to ask questions about the programme.
The RCS audition panel will consist of a relevant departmental staff member and the Head of Department. Our international auditions will consist of one panel member and will also be recorded for review by the relevant department.
All in-person auditions will be given a twenty-minute warm up slot prior to their audition.
Audition Dates
- Singapore, 18 & 19 January 2025, SOTA – applicants are to bring their own accompanist where possible. If any problems or concerns, please email singaporeauditions@rcs.ac.uk
- New York, 30 & 31 January 2025, Location TBC – applicants are to bring their own accompanist where possible. If any problems or concerns, please email usaauditions@rcs.ac.uk
- Los Angeles, 25 & 26 January 2025, Location TBC – applicants are to bring their own accompanist where possible. If any problems or concerns, please email usaauditions@rcs.ac.uk
International applicants are welcome to submit a recorded submission via Acceptd if these dates are not suitable. A live online interview, if held, will assess the candidate’s suitability for the programme in terms of knowledge, experience and commitment.
Recording Guidelines:
- When setting up for your video recording, your body (typically, from about the waist up) and instrument should be the focal point of the frame. The committee wants to be able to see not just your face but how well you navigate your instrument.
- The video recording should be provided in ONE continuous shot without separate tracks for different musical pieces.
- Please begin the recording by introducing yourself to camera and stating what you will be performing. You can take a little time between pieces so long as your body must remain in the frame.
- For any pieces that were written for your instrument and piano accompaniment, you are encouraged to perform with piano accompaniment (whether live or pre-recorded) if practical for you. Be assured, however, that if this is not possible for you, then you will not be disadvantaged in any way.
Below, Head of Department John Logan gives a few top tips for students auditioning for Brass:
Details of the repertoire requested for your in-person audition/recorded submission can be found below.
For all instruments, you will be asked to perform one piece selected from the provided list, and one piece of your own choice.
Horn
- Mozart — Horn Concerto No. 3 in Eb, K.447
- F Strauss — Nocturno, Op. 7 (Universal)
- R Strauss — Concerto No. 1 in Eb, Op. 11, 2nd movement: Andante (Universal)
Trumpet
- H Busser — Andante et Scherzo (Leduc/UMP)
- J Hubeau — Sonate, 1st and 2nd movements: Sarabande and Intermède (Durand/UMP)
- Hummel — Trumpet Concerto, 1st and 2nd movements or 2nd and 3rd movements (Bb or Eb trumpet, any edition). C, A or Eb.
Cornet
- Arban — Study No. 10 from Cornet Method (Boosey & Hawkes)
- J Hubeau — Sonate, 1st and 2nd movements (Durand/UMP)
- D Wright — Cornet Concerto (Studio Music)
Tenor Trombone
- J S Bach — Menuettos 1 and 2 from Cello Suite No 1 in C (arr. Lafosse) (Leduc/UMP)
- Galliard — Sonata No. 1, any three of the five movements
- Guilmant — Morceau symphonique, Op. 88 (Schott 10484)
Bass Trombone
- P McCarty — Sonata for Bass Trombone (Ensemble Publications)
- Boutry — Tubaroque (Leduc/UMP)
- J S Bach — Menuettos 1 and 2 from Cello Suite No. 1 in C (A.Wenzinger, ed. Bärenreiter)
Euphonium
- J Horovitz — Euphonium Concerto (Novello)
- J S Bach — Cello Suite No. 1 in C (Leduc) (arr. Lafosse)
- Arban — Study No. 10 from Cornet Method (Boosey & Hawkes)
Tuba
- W Hartley — Suite for unaccompanied Tuba, complete (Elkan-Vogel/UMP)
- G Jacob — Tuba Suite, 1st and 2nd movements
- Hindemith — Tuba Sonata, 1st movement (Schott 4636)
- V Williams — Tuba Concerto, 1st movement
More from the Brass Department
RCS Presents: Brass
Watch this collection of performances from RCS Brass students during their first few weeks back at the Conservatoire after lockdown.
Brass Department Video
Watch this short film about our Brass department, where we spoke to Head of Brass, John Logan, and some of our students about studying at RCS.
Book a music advice lesson
One-to-one Principal-Study lessons are at the heart of any conservatoire course. An advice lesson here at RCS gives you the chance to experience the RCS working environment and assess your suitability for conservatoire education. It can also be used as a mock/advice audition.
Why RCS?
We are the only place in Europe where you can study all of the performing arts on the one campus. There is a distinctive creative energy at RCS and you’ll be made to feel part of our inclusive and diverse environment from the very beginning of your studies.
Our graduates are resourceful, highly employable and members of a dynamic community of artists who make a significant impact across the globe.
At RCS, students develop not just their art but their power to use it.
World Top Ten
We were voted one of the world’s Top Ten destinations to study the performing arts (QS Rankings) in 2024, the eighth time we have been placed in the top ten since the ranking was established in 2016.
Perform & Collaborate
Our curriculum is built around performance and collaboration and we hold professional partnerships with all of Scotland’s National Companies. Join forces across artforms and be part of the 500+ performances we give each year.
Outstanding Alumni
Our graduates are employed across the world and we take pride in the impact they have on their art forms. We’ll equip you with the skills to thrive as a professional and join their ranks.
Learn from the Best
More than 1,000 lecturers, tutors, artists, technicians, co-ordinators and support staff work at RCS across all our art forms. Study with some of the finest educators and performing and production artists in the UK.
A Campus Built for You
Our facilities are world-class. From rehearsal rooms and recording studios to our five professional performance venues, we have a campus to showcase and develop emerging artists to the highest standards.