MMusPerf (Vocal Studies)

Application deadline

24 March 2023
Course duration

2 years
Course accreditation

Trinity Accredited Course
Course fee

€10,500 per annum
Course fee (non-EU/EEA)

€22,050 per annum

Course Introduction

Welcome to the Vocal Studies and Opera overview of the MMusPerf programme at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. There is a rich tradition of success amongst our vocal graduates, who perform in opera houses and concert halls around the world.

At RIAM we aim to equip you with all the necessary skills to enable you to reach your full potential. Our dynamic MMus in Performance course has been specifically designed to set you on the path to a successful performance career in the 21st century. We pride ourselves on our small intake of talented students and our supportive learning environment.

You will have two hours of singing lessons per week with a vocal teacher of international calibre.
You will also have weekly lessons with a vocal coach and accompanist.
RIAM singers are also guaranteed individual coaching sessions and masterclasses with our International Visiting Artists.
In addition, we offer a wide range of classes to support your vocal, physical and musical development. These include group classes in Languages, Movement, Acting, Yoga, Song, and Opera Performance.

We are passionate about performance at RIAM. Our students are guaranteed a wealth of performance opportunities throughout their studies. We produce two fully staged opera productions per year in professional theatres, directed by leading opera directors and conductors. We have also established performance collaborations for our vocal students with the Guildhall School, London, the Juilliard School, New York, and the Liszt Academy, Budapest.

I am very happy to take queries from you. You can contact me on kathleentynan@riam.ie

Course Outline

The MMusPerf programme is two years long. Students entering the programme are expected to have a solid technical foundation, the ability to learn repertoire quickly, and confidence in at least three languages. They will be expected to perform frequently and to participate in fully staged operas and vocal projects which are designed to make our graduates industry-ready on leaving.

For both years of the course there are two singing lessons per week, individual weekly sessions with a vocal coach and accompanist, and a variety of Performance Classes.

All singers participate in two performances annually with the RIAM Chorale.

MMusPerf students have the opportunity to sing roles, understudy roles and participate in the ensemble of RIAM’s critically acclaimed opera productions.

Vocal Performance assessments

The following assessments take place for each year of the MMusPerf programme:

Recital

Mid-year Recital Exam: (February) to be a well balanced and challenging programme of 40 minutes

Vocal work with orchestra (opera or concert repertoire)

End of year: (June) a 60 minute recital of major vocal repertoire

Supporting studies

You can choose from the following electives:

Dissertation
Composition
Music Technology
Analysis
Conducting

RIAM Holistic – The Working Musician

RIAM Holistic modules are designed to develop students into flexible and adaptable artists, ready in mind and body for the demands of a career in music. MMusPerf students have the option to study:

Career Strategy
Entrepreneurship
The Principles of Pedagogy
Music in the Community
Contemporary Music Collaborations
Yoga and Feldenkrais
Performance Psychology

For a more detailed description of the course requirements, please refer to the MMus course handbook.

Performing Opportunities

We are passionate about performance at RIAM.

Our students are guaranteed a wealth of performance opportunities in great venues throughout their studies.

We produce two fully staged opera productions per year in professional theatres directed by leading opera directors and conductors.

We have also established performance collaborations for our vocal students with the Guildhall School, London, the Juilliard School, New York and the Liszt Academy, Budapest.

Career Destinations

In the past five years RIAM singing alumni have performed roles with the following opera companies:

Ireland: Irish National Opera; Wexford Festival Opera; NI Opera, Belfast; Wide Open opera; Opera Theatre Company;

UK: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Glyndebourne Festival Opera; English National Opera; Welsh National Opera; Scottish Opera; Opera North; Holland Park Opera; Garsington Opera; Early Opera Company;

US: Metropolitan Opera, New York;

Europe: Salzburg Festival; Bavarian State Opera; Vienna State Opera; Hamburg Opera; Staattheater Klagenfurt; Oper Frankfurt; Staatstheater Wiesbaden Oper; Landestheater Linz; BadischesStaats Theater Karlsruhe; Komische Oper Berlin; Semperoper Dresden; Theater Erfurt; Theater Freiburg; Deutsch Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf; Oper Leipzig; Zurich Opera; Les Arts Florisants; Paris Opera; Aix-en-Province Festival; La Fenice, Venice; Teatro dell’Opera di Roma; La Scala, Milan; Maggio Musicale Fiorentino; Danish National Opera; Swedish National Opera; Teatro Real, Madrid;Tel Aviv Opera; Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg

Why Choose Us

When you are selected to study at the RIAM you can be sure that you will receive the highest level of tuition from teachers who are passionate about what they do.

You will benefit from a bespoke vocal studies degree specially designed to equip you with all the necessary skills to enable you to reach your full potential.

You will get access to world-class performers through masterclasses and individual coaching sessions.

Being in a small class means that you will receive a vast number of performance opportunities in great venues.

You will get the opportunity to perform roles in fully stage opera productions directed and conducted by leading opera professionals.

You will be inspired to follow in the footsteps of our successful alumni:
- Tara Erraught, Celine Byrne, Claudia Boyle, Anna Devin, Naomi O’Connell, Gavan Ring, Máire Flavin, Benjamin Russell, Gyula Nagy, Padraic Rowan and Rachel Kelly

This is the best preparation you can have to get ready for a performing career in the 21st century.

Entry Requirements

Auditions

There are no set audition pieces. You will need to perform a balanced and stylistically contrasting programme of at least 30 minutes. A short interview (normally 10-15 minutes) will follow the performance. Applicants should also bring a list of repertoire which they have previously performed.

Auditions are usually held in January. Overseas applicants may audition by unedited DVD.

If submitting a DVD, please ensure that the quality of this DVD is sufficient for the panel to make a judgment. Poor quality DVDs will result in the panel being unable to process your application.

Candidates will generally receive the result within a month of their audition.