Music — Performance

The Bachelor of Arts in Music — Performance at the University of Oxford offers a comprehensive and rigorous education in the art of musical performance, designed to develop both technical skill and analytical insight. This programme provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in a wide range of musical styles, techniques, and genres, fostering their growth as versatile and accomplished performers. Throughout the course, students engage in intensive individual coaching, ensemble work, and practical workshops, allowing them to refine their instrument or vocal skills under the guidance of renowned professional musicians and academics. The programme emphasizes not only the development of technical proficiency but also the intellectual understanding of music’s historical and theoretical contexts. Students explore a diverse repertoire, spanning from early music to contemporary compositions, cultivating an adaptable and well-rounded musical palette.

At Oxford, the Music Performance programme is designed to encourage creativity, originality, and confidence in performance settings. Alongside practical training, students undertake research and theoretical study, analyzing musical works and styles, which helps underpin their interpretative decisions during performances. The course also emphasizes the importance of collaborative work, with many opportunities to participate in chamber music, orchestra, and choir projects, fostering teamwork and leadership skills. Students are encouraged to take part in concerts, recitals, and competitions, enhancing their performance experience and public engagement. The university’s vibrant musical community, combined with world-class facilities, provides an inspiring environment for aspiring professional musicians.

The programme is suitable for students who have already achieved a high standard of proficiency on their instrument or voice and are committed to pursuing a career in music performance. By the end of their studies, graduates will possess a unique blend of technical mastery, interpretative ability, and professional readiness, equipping them for careers as soloists, chamber musicians, orchestral players, or musical educators. The Oxford Music — Performance programme combines academic excellence with practical artistry, ensuring students graduate with both the confidence and competence needed to excel in the dynamic and competitive world of music performance.

The Master of Studies in Music (Performance) introduces a broad range of current methodologies and approaches in music scholarship. The main MSt teaching and coursework is done in the first two terms and the third is reserved for completion of assessed work.

Core seminars

In the Michaelmas term there are typically six topics:

• historical musicology
• current trends in music theory
• aesthetics
• the social and cultural study of music
• performance
• composition

You may participate in as many of these seminars as you wish. Your first assessment may be written in response to an aspect of any one of the courses attended.

Elective seminars

Each year a number of faculty members convene a series of ‘elective’ seminars based on their research interests, to help prepare you for your assessment essays. You are invited to attend as many of these seminars as you wish. Reading lists are sent out before the start of the courses and you are asked to prepare fully and contribute to the seminars. The first of the seminars may well incorporate a lecture given by the faculty member. Most of the electives take place in Hilary term.

Recent seminar series included the following titles:

• Musical Cross Currents between Opera and Film     
• Late Medieval Music: Ontology, Ethics and Cognition    
• Music and Consciousness    
• Operatic Identities
• Schubert’s Fingerprints
• Sound Cultures, Sound Objects
• Street Music   

Presentation seminars

Presentation seminars are held in Hilary term. The entire MSt student cohort is split into two groups, with musicologists, performers and composers being represented in each group. You will prepare a presentation on your own research in one session and will be asked to respond to another student’s presentation in another.

Assessment

You will undertake a short performance examination at the beginning of Hilary term and will submit an essay in musicology at the end of Hilary term. The final assessment will include a second essay in musicology and a longer recital at the end of Trinity term.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in music or related fields.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7, a first-class degree or the equivalent.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

Relevant professional experience may be considered as a substitute for academic attainment.

The minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score sought is 163 (Verbal). However, since entrance is very competitive most successful applicants will have a GRE score of 166 (Verbal) or more.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose: Up to 1,000 words
• Written work:Two essays, up to 5,000 words in total
• Portfolio: Recording of up to 15 minutes
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme

The undergraduate degree program in Music — Performance at the University of Oxford offers students an extensive and rigorous education in the art and craft of musical performance. The program is designed to develop not only technical proficiency but also deep interpretative skills, critical listening, and a comprehensive understanding of musical repertoire across different periods and genres. Students have the opportunity to work closely with leading professional musicians, university tutors, and ensembles, facilitating a hands-on learning environment that emphasizes performance excellence.

The course typically includes a mixture of individual lessons, chamber music, orchestral opportunities, and performance projects. Students engage in regular public recitals, gaining invaluable experience in performance settings and audience engagement. The program emphasizes both practical skill and scholarly understanding, encouraging students to study music history, theory, and analysis alongside their performance training. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that graduates acquire a well-rounded musical education, preparing them for careers as performers, educators, or further study in music.

At Oxford, students benefit from a rich cultural environment, with access to world-class concert halls, libraries, and archives. The program encourages active participation in the university’s vibrant musical life, including participation in orchestras, choirs, and bands. Students also have opportunities for collaborative projects, recordings, and masterclasses with distinguished visiting artists and faculty members.

The program is demanding and requires a high level of commitment, discipline, and artistic dedication. Admission is competitive, involving an audition process to assess technical skills, musicality, and potential. The duration of the undergraduate degree is typically three years, during which students develop their individual artistic voice and prepare for professional careers or postgraduate studies.

Overall, the Music — Performance program at Oxford provides an exemplary education that integrates practical performance skills with academic scholarship, fostering the growth of well-rounded, highly skilled musicians. Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers as soloists, ensemble players, educators, and scholars, contributing significantly to the cultural landscape locally, nationally, and internationally.