Guildhall School of Music & Drama

10/09/2026

Fill your autumn with new possibilities 🍂

There’s just over a week left to book your place on one of our Autumn Evening Courses. This is your chance to challenge yourself, grow your skills or unlock new opportunities this September and October.

Courses are for ages 18+ and cover drama, music, writing and more, running for up to eight weeks from Tuesday 22 September.

Courses available include:

✨ Improvisation: Level 1
✨ Monologues Connecting to the Text
✨ Introduction to Theatre Making
✨ Introduction to Acting Practice: Level 2

Discover how far a Guildhall Short Course could take you this autumn ⤵️
https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/short-courses-summer-schools/find-a-short-course-or-summer-school?when=502

08/09/2026

🎼 "Your first instrument is your body."

Head of Chamber Music Matthew Jones’ path into music wasn’t a straightforward one. From originally studying mathematics to stepping away from playing due to injury.

Through Alexander technique, Kundalini yoga and meditation, he returned to playing, and now aims to help today’s students avoid going through the same challenges.

Read more about Matthew’s journey in The Strad ⤵

The Welsh violist and violinist and head of chamber music at Guildhall School of Music & Drama on his teaching approach and unconventional journey

02/09/2026

🎭What happens when a Master’s student in Composition decides to try out acting?

For Alberte, it led to six Acting short courses and whole new set of skills.

As she prepares to graduate from our postgraduate programme in Electronic & Produced Music, we sat down with Alberte to discuss her journey through music and performance, and what she’s learnt from our Acting Summer School:

✨ Acting and performance
✨ Life after Guildhall
✨ Transferable creative skills
✨ Advice for future short course students

Read the full interview:

We caught up with Alberte, Electronic & Produced Music alumna and six-time acting short course participant, to hear all about her experience with Guildhall and her interest in both music and drama.

01/09/2026

🌊Experience the sea in sound with one of the world’s finest youth orchestras.

This month, London Schools Symphony Orchestra (LSSO) brings a powerful, sea-inspired programme to Fairfield Halls in Croydon. The programme includes:

◾Ethel Smyth’s “Overture to The Wreckers” led by LSSO Conductor in Residence Sitali Dewan

◾John Pickard’s “Sea-Change”, a work written for young musicians and conducted by Enyi Okpara

◾Anna Clyne’s “Restless Oceans” inspired by an Audre Lorde poem, the piece calls on the musicians to sign and stamp their feet whilst playing.

◾Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherzade”, a dazzling retelling of Sinbad’s legendary voyager across the Arabian seas.

From turbulent waters and triumphant journeys to acts of defiance and timeless storytelling, this thrilling programme mirrors the sea itself.

Join us on 15 September to witness the LSSO in action. Tickets from £14.50 ⤵
https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/whats-on/london-schools-symphony-orchestra-voyages-and-visions

28/08/2026

Reliving some Summer Schools highlights ☀️

Over 1,000 of you joined us for a summer of creativity, collaboration, performance.

Now the official photos are in, we’re sharing a few of our favourite moments from this year’s Summer Schools. Take a look and see if you can spot yourself!

📸 Photos by Paul Cochrane

27/08/2026

"I found the journey from first rehearsal, all the way up to the concert, particularly fascinating." 🥹

From assisting guest conductors and leading rehearsals to teaching a conducting workshop and touring Catalunya, 2025/26 LSSO Conductor in Residence Sitali Dewan has fully embraced her time in her role.

Ahead of her final concert with the young musicians, we caught up with Sitali to find our more about her year with the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, the lessons she'll take away and her plans for the future.

Read the full interview ⤵
https://shr.pn/Ahol

📝 Applications to be the next LSSO Conductor in Residence are now open, closing at 9am on 7 September. More info at the bottom of the article.

From assisting guest conductors and leading rehearsals to teaching a conducting workshop and touring Catalunya, 2025/26 LSSO Conductor in Residence Sitali Dewan has embraced her time in the role.

26/08/2026

🎼"Be curious and explorative, in both your music making and your listening."

Composer, performer and field-recordist CJ Brooke has had quite the journey through Guildhall School, from starting as a young musician Guildhall Young Artists Norwich to flourishing on as an undergraduate on the BMus Composition programme.

We caught up with CJ to talk about their journey, memorable moments and the advice they'd give to the next generation of young musicians.

Read the full interview ⤵
https://shr.pn/1ZFQ

📝Applications to study Music at Guildhall in 2027 are open across undergraduate and postgraduate, closing on 1 October.

From Guildhall Young Artists (GYA) Norwich to studying BMus undergraduate course at Guildhall School, CJ Brooke shares their journey, creative inspirations and advice for the next generation of young musicians.

24/08/2026

We are very saddened to hear of the passing of mezzo-soprano Laura Sarti FGS.

A professor and Fellow of Guildhall School since the 1970s, Laura inspired generations of vocal students over several decades, sharing her passion, enthusiasm and expertise. Still teaching at the School at the age of 90, she retired from her position in 2014.

As a distinguished teacher of so many singers, Laura gained an international reputation, delivering vocal masterclasses in the UK, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Ireland and Portugal.

Before beginning her teaching career, Laura enjoyed a successful operatic career, singing with the English National Opera, Welsh National Opera and Glyndebourne. She was also a founding cast member of both the Kent Opera and Scottish Opera.

We share our condolences with her family, friends, colleagues and students. She will be sorely missed.

Photo credit: Norbert Meyn.

21/08/2026

“It felt like a total creative explosion.” 💥

From 13 July - 7 August, we opened our doors to over 1000 Summer School participants from all over the world.

Here, we catch up with three of this year's participants, Peter from Switzerland, Tori from Singapore and Jermaine from the Netherlands, to hear more about their experiences and why they chose a Guildhall Summer School.

Read as they talk to us about:

✨ Their course highlights
✨ The skills they’ve learnt for the future
✨ How they spent their free time in London
✨ Any advice they’d give to people thinking of attending

Head to the link in comments to read the full interview ⤵

20/08/2026

We’re delighted to see three Guildhall School Alumni nominated in The Stage Debut Awards 2026 ✨

Huge congratulations to:

✨ Ed Zanders (Composition 2016) - Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer for Thespians
✨ Levi Brown (Acting 2021) - Best West End Debut Performer in Cyrano de Bergerac
✨ Kate Phillips (Acting 2014) - Best West End Debut Performer in The Weir

The Stage Debut Awards celebrate emerging actors and creatives from across the industry. The winners will be announced on 27 September in London.

Best of luck to Ed, Levi and Kate!🤞

See more information and the full list of nominees via the link in comments ⤵