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Get creative with historical repertoires by developing your performance and research skills
Year of entry: 2026 (September)
MA in Music Performance: Historical Performance Practices is a course for creative, independent-thinking performers who want to deepen their understanding of music from the Baroque to the Romantic period.
You will explore creative ways to perform music by composers such as Biber, Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms and their contemporaries. You will have the opportunity to work with historical instruments such as harpsichords, historical pianos and baroque bows, to play in a baroque orchestra, and to participate in events at the National Centre for Early Music. You will learn about historical practices such as ornamentation and improvisation, and research your repertoire using historical documents like manuscript scores and treatises. You will be inspired by York’s vibrant Early Music scene, featuring concerts and workshops by internationally-famous experts in historical performance.
You will be supported by our passionate staff who are all internationally-renowned performers and experts in historical performance practices. Our workshops and performance classes will give you an in-depth understanding of the history of music performance, and your individual lessons will guide your technical and musical development on your instrument/voice. You will have access to specialist piano and harpsichord accompanists throughout the year to support your classes and recital preparation.
The MA in Historical Performance Practices is led by Dr Emily Worthington, who performs internationally as a clarinettist and researches widely on Classical and Romantic performance practices and cultures. York’s specialist teaching staff include Claire Holden (historical violin), Rachel Gray (historical cello), Edwina Smith (historical flute), Carmen Troncoso (recorder), Lesley Schatzberger (clarinet), Susannah Pell (viols), Catherine Pierron (harpsichord), and Daniel Grimwood (historical pianos). Artists-in-Association Ensemble Hesperi give regular workshops and side-by-side opportunities. Other visiting artists have included the Consone Quartet, I Fagiolini and Richard Egarr.
All the MA Music Performance programmes emphasise independence and creativity. You will have the freedom to study the music that interests you as a performer and researcher.
Over the course, you will study a series of core and option modules, including up to three assessed recitals. You’ll receive a very generous allowance hours of one-to-one tuition with your instrumental or vocal teacher over the year. You are also strongly encouraged to participate in the department’s ensembles and research community. You will choose from a range of options, including a collaborative performance project. You can also select from our menu of advanced undergraduate modules which look intensively into specific topics and repertoires.
During the course, you will:
You'll also take a range of option modules. Examples from previous years have included:
Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
*If you're taking the part-time route, you will be required to take Recital II rather than an option module as in the full-time programme. This will help you maintain your performance skills across the 2-year programme.
Your course will conclude with a public recital, for which you will design and prepare a substantial programme of solo and/or ensemble music. Where possible and appropriate, your recital will take place at the National Centre for Early Music. You will be supported by tutorials and instrumental or vocal lessons.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Improving my playing, developing my confidence, leading to professional concerts and inspiring my doctoral research, this course was certainly one of my favourite and most pivotal years in higher education. I cannot recommend it enough!
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £27,250 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£6,000 | £13,625 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2026/27 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Your teaching will be based on the following:
You are also strongly encouraged to participate in the department’s ensembles during your course. Students who wish to form their own small ensembles can request coaching from staff.
The University Baroque Ensemble specialises in 17th and 18th century music. It gives students opportunity to play side-by-side with professional musicians from Ensemble Hesperi in the world-famous York Early Music Festival. The University Viol Consort is open to beginner and experienced players wanting to explore the Viol, a 16th century string instrument that predates the modern violin and cello. HistoryJam! allows students to learn about historical improvisations styles and techniques, and is open to all students with no prior experience necessary.
You are also encouraged to broaden your experience by joining other department ensembles such as Symphony Orchestra, University Choir, The 24, and Chimera Ensemble. University ensembles regularly perform in venues including York Minster and the National Centre for Early Music, as well as York Concerts on the University Campus.
The School has a fine collection of early instruments, including:
We also have a large collection of Renaissance, Baroque and Classical wind and string instruments.
We have a range of outstanding facilities, including the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, teaching rooms and practice facilities. Discover our facilities. We also have a close partnership with the National Centre for Early Music.
Your teaching will take place within the School of Arts and Creative Technologies which has sites on both Campus West and Campus East. The majority of your core teaching for this MA programme will take place in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall buildings on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will design and present up to two recitals of up to 30 minutes, and a final recital of 40-45 minutes. The length of the final recital may be reduced and presented in combination with a piece of written work. Programmes can include solo and ensemble repertoire, and will be assessed on criteria including technical command, interpretative and historical insight, and creativity.
You will demonstrate your skills and ideas through assessments including a portfolio of exercises, a research presentation, and a lecture-recital or written case-study, on topics of your choosing.
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'Music Performance: Historical Performance Practices graduates have gone onto a variety of careers in music performance as well as creative and administrative roles in the wider arts sector. Graduates have also gone on to work in education, both freelance and employed by an institution. Further study destinations include both conservatoires and other universities.
Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we'll help you find your career advantage.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Music or another relevant subject. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Your application should include:
A video recording (or a link to an online video recording) of about 10-15 minutes of yourself performing varied repertoire that includes a piece of Baroque or Classical music. A 1-page statement describing why you want to study historical performance practices and what your specific area of interest is.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.0, minimum 5.5 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 169, with no less than 162 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 6, minimum of 5 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 126, minimum 116 in each component |
| Duolingo | 105, minimum 95 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 65 with a minimum of 60 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 444-477, with 410-443 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Pass with Merit overall, with Pass in each component |
| PTE Academic | 55, minimum 51 in each component |
| TOEFL | 79, minimum 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing |
| Trinity ISE III | Pass in all components |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
