Work with industry experts to hone your skills in this refined genre.
Year of entry: 2023 (September)
Join us online between 11am and 2pm GMT on Wednesday 8 February to see what postgraduate study at York is all about. Find out more.
Book your placeUntil recently, postgraduate music education has barely explored the connection between the worlds of solo and choral singing. In this unique course led by Robert Hollingworth, high-respected in the art form, you'll explore the subtleties of this sophisticated genre.
As well as receiving general vocal coaching, you'll work on the specific difficulties faced by singers in a genre that combines both choral precision and solo expression. You'll also be coached by singers from world-famous ensemble, I Fagiolini, and learn to challenge accepted norms about this kind of singing.
You'll explore how audiences receive this repertoire, much of which was not written with public concert performance in mind, and consider how this affects presentation and performance.
The greatest thing about the year was discovering just how high a performance standard it is possible to achieve with time, dedication, and diplomacy. Put simply, the course changed the way I approach making music.Thomas, MA Music Performance: Solo Voice Ensemble Singing
for Music in the Russell Group, National Student Survey, 2022.
You'll have access to practice rooms, recording studios and two professional concert halls, as well as opportunities to work with the latest vocal technology in the School of Physics and Electronic Engineering.
Throughout the year, you'll work within your ensemble to support each other and develop your skills within a consort environment.
We place an emphasis on independence and creativity - you will have the freedom to study the areas that interest you, in consultation with your ensemble.
Over the year, you'll study a series of core and option modules, and perform assessed recitals. In addition, we strongly encourage you to participate in musical ensembles and attend weekly research seminars, performance classes and composition seminars relevant to your studies.
You’ll receive 30 hours of private vocal tuition over the year. Lessons usually take place every week.
You'll take a range of option modules. Examples may include:
The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information, get in touch.
*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 substantial public recital showcasing your artistic and scholarly insight through a programme of your own design.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
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.
Students on a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 Visa) are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
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 2023/24 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Led by Robert Hollingworth, director of British vocal consort I Fagiolini, you'll receive tuition from industry experts and professionals at the top of their field.
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 largely take the form of weekly seminars, covering musicological teaching and vocal coaching, and one-to-one tutorials. You'll also be expected to arrange regular rehearsals with your ensemble, as well as participating in rehearsals of musical ensembles, including The 24.
You will have regular meetings with your supervisor, who will advise you and help develop your ideas as you progress through your studies.
We encourage you to get involved with our lively community, from our ensembles to our weekly seminars, performance classes and research seminars.
We have a range of outstanding facilities, including the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall and dozens of teaching rooms and practice facilities. All spaces are designed to be flexible and are used for projects, seminars, ensemble rehearsals and recordings. Discover our facilities.
You will be based in the School of Arts & Creative Technologies on Campus West. Almost all of your teaching will take place within the School.
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.
Within your group, you’ll develop three concert programmes for assessment throughout the course. The first two recitals will be based on repertoire agreed with the course tutor, while the third focuses more on independent choice. Alongside these you will have written and presentation assessments designed to help you develop communication and research skills relevant to your work as a performer.
This course is directly beneficial to students wishing to break in to the commercial world of classical singing. You'll gain vital skills for performing your repertoire professionally, enabling you to be competitive within the professional solo and choral worlds.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:1 or equivalent in Music or another relevant discipline. We will also consider your application if you have a 2:2 honours degree and relevant professional experience. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Ensembles can be any size depending on your interests, but groups are generally made up of 4-8 singers.
The course is aimed at ensembles, and therefore you need to be part of a balanced group of voices that work together as an ensemble through the year. Please note that the application process requires individual applications to be made by each member of the ensemble.
If you're already in a group that wishes to apply as a group, please get in touch directly with Robert Hollingworth.
If you're applying as an individual, we will match you to other candidates and recommend that you meet to rehearse for a short period before the course begins.
If you're on different continents, this may be impractical. In this case, each singer will be encouraged to video-record two pieces (either solo or in consort with others) and make them available to the other singers so that each of you has a proper chance to listen to your colleagues in advance.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.0, minimum 5.5 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 169, minimum 162 in each component |
| Duolingo | 105, minimum 95 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | B2 Communicator: Pass with 25/50 in each component |
| PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online | 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
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