Classical Music
Strings, Harp & Guitar
The Department of Stringed Instruments emphasises individual tuition underpinned by intensive chamber coaching and orchestral training, and will prepare you for an exciting and rewarding future in all areas of the profession.
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About Strings at Guildhall
About Strings at Guildhall
Violin | Viola | Cello | Double Bass | Guitar | Harp
Individual lessons and masterclasses • Chamber music • Orchestra • String Ensemble
The Strings Department Instruments focusses on individual tuition underpinned by intensive chamber coaching and orchestral training, and sudies will prepare you for an exciting and rewarding future in all areas of the profession.
Led by Louise Hopkins, the department is supported by a staff of pre-eminent world-class performers and professors who share a passion to guide and support the talented, curious musicians that enter Guildhall School. Guildhall Strings alumni are members of leading chamber ensembles and orchestras internationally, and many are among the most sought-after string performers and teachers, including Imogen Barford as Head of Harp and Sasha Savaloni as Senior Coordinator of Guitar, with David Takeno as the School’s first International Chair of Violin.
Recent visitors include Christian Tetzlaff, Ettore Causa, Gordan Nikolic, Nobuko Imai, Bruno Giuranna, Donald Weilerstein, Thomas Riebl, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos, DaXun Zhang, Midori; principal players of the London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestras, and the New York Philharmonic; members of the Emerson, Takacs, Brentano, Endellion and Danish String Quartets.
The Harp Department combines individual teaching of the highest calibre with a stimulating and extensive course of study for harpists. Work in weekly classes covers every aspect of harp playing, including orchestral, chamber music, practising and teaching skills, jazz and improvisation, contemporary musicianship, light music, historically-informed style, and contextual studies.
The Guitar Department offers comprehensive training at the highest level in both solo and chamber music performance. The central part of the programme is the solo repertoire of the last four centuries. During the second year students take theorbo lessons which lead to continuo work. And in Year 3 and 4 chamber music and concerto playing are essential parts of the syllabus.
Watch the video
Find out more about Strings training at Guildhall from our students and staff in the video below.
Strings contact details
Liam Donegan, Strings Department Manager
Tel: 020 3834 1608
strings@gsmd.ac.uk
Strings, Harp & Guitar Staff
Performance & Collaboration
Studying music at an internationally-renowned conservatoire means you can become immersed in a world of performance from day one.
Undergraduate study
Performance is a core component of the Strings Principal Study pathway, with regular opportunities to play in public solo and chamber music concerts.
Students receive 45 hours of individual lessons a year. Intensive chamber music coaching is central to the Department’s ethos and is available to all string players.
Read more about the broader BMus programme structure.
Postgraduate study
Read more about our our Master of Music in Performance and Master of Performance (Guildhall Artist). In Strings, there are two main pathways: Orchestral Artistry (in association with the London Symphony Orchestra) and Advanced Instrumental Studies.
Orchestral Artistry in association with the London Symphony Orchestra
Find out details of this exciting specialism.
Advanced Instrumental Studies
This specialism is for talented students to develop their individual artistic voice with a particular focus on selected repertoire, whether solo or chamber music, early or contemporary music with the inclusion of orchestral experience.
Read more about our our Guildhall Artist Masters (MMus/MPerf) in Performance.
In Strings, there are two main pathways: Orchestral Artistry (in association with the London Symphony Orchestra) and Advanced Instrumental Studies.
Orchestral Artistry in association with the London Symphony Orchestra
Find out details of this exciting specialism for bowed strings players.
Advanced Instrumental Studies
This specialism is for players wishing to focus intensively on instrumental and musical progression, and offers a high number of contact hours in individual lessons with your Principal Study professor. It includes an optional Chamber Music elective and a range of chamber music performance opportunities, as this is a primary focus within the School. A broad variety of orchestral projects (opera, chamber, symphony, new music, historical performance) provide exploration of a wide variety of techniques and styles.
Chamber Music
This specialism focuses on the development of core chamber music skills. Regular coaching is provided by a mixture of departmental staff and visiting artists. The specialism is designed for individuals and existing groups with considerable chamber music experience, with the aim of developing students’ skills to a professional level.
Read more about our Artist Diploma programme.
Read more about our Doctoral research programmes.
Applications
Training & Performances
Chamber Music at Guildhall School
Creating an Opera Double Bill at Guildhall
Orchestral Artistry at the Guildhall School
Activities & Ensembles
- Principal Study lessons
- Intensive chamber music coaching (inter- and cross-departmental)
- Public solo and chamber music concerts
- Solo and chamber music competitions
- Mock orchestral auditions
- Participation in New Music Ensemble (by audition)
- Second Study (by audition)
- Side-by-side reading sessions with members of professional orchestras
- Studio orchestra
- Chamber, Symphony Orchestra and String Ensemble projects, with orchestra sectional rehearsals led by London Symphony Orchestra players
- String Labs and Professor Platform lecture/workshop series, featuring a broad range of topics
- Internal performance platforms designed to enhance performance and boost confidence
- Solo, chamber and orchestral masterclasses
- Strings at Six and Chamber at Six performance series
Hear our double bassists share their experiences of training at Guildhall, from symphony orchestra concerts to chamber and baroque music.
Highlights, Successes & Alumni
Recent Department highlights and successes have included:
- String masterclasses with Patricia Kopachinskaja, Patrick Jüdt, Erich Hobarth, Gary Hoffman, Ettore Causa, Christian Tetzlaff, Nobuko Imai, Bruno Giuranna, Donald Weilerstein, Mark Gothoni, DaXun Zhang, Nikolaj Znaider, Thomas Riebl, Roberto Díaz, András Keller, Janine Jansen, Elmira Darvarova, Leonidas Kavakos, Gordan Nikolic, Zuill Bailey, Midori, Rodrigo Moro, Lorraine Campet, Phoebe Russell, Jurek Dybal, Alban Gerhardt, Bret Simner, Pavlo Beznosiuk (Baroque interpretation) and Extended String Techniques for contemporary music with David Alberman (LSO, ex-Arditti Quartet).
- Orchestral sectional rehearsals with members of the London Symphony Orchestra, and repertoire workshops with principal players of the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonic, NAC Orchestra of Canada, Leipzig Gewandhaus and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestras, and Elmira Darvarova (New York Metropolitan Opera, opera concertmaster solos).
- Chamber music masterclasses with members of the Emerson, Takacs, Brentano, Endellion and Danish String Quartets, Ralf Gothoni, András Keller, Jonathan Morton, Ferenc Rados and Simon Rowland-Jones. Special string/chamber orchestra projects led by Levon Chillingirian, Anthony Marwood, Candida Thompson, Andrew Watkinson.
- Harp masterclasses with Nancy Allen, Sylvain Blassel, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Anneleen Lenaerts, Sivan Magen, Chantal Mathieu and Isabelle Perrin.
- Guitar masterclasses recent and past include Berta Rojas, David Tannenbaum, Ricardo Iznaola, David Russell, Ignacio Rodes, Eduardo Martin, David Starobin,Douglas Rogers, Antigoni Goni and Maximo Pujol.
- Masterclasses with leaders of the Barbican's visiting orchestras and ensembles, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic (International Orchestra Partner) and Australian Chamber Orchestra (International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court).
- Performances by senior student string quartets in pre-London Symphony Orchestra concerts on the Barbican Hall stage
- Joint projects with the Composition Department, where string and piano students work with composers resulting in the performance of newly created works
- A dedicated and recently refurbished double bass room and harp room, as well as storage lockers for basses
Students in the Department have recently been prize winners in the following competitions:
- Royal Overseas League, BBC New Generation Artists, Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT) and Concert Artists Guild (New York), awards for solo and chamber music
- Bordeaux, Banff and Borciani International String Quartet competitions
- Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition
- CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust Intercollegiate Competition
- ProQuartet-CEMC Residency Programme (France)
- Le Dimore del Quartetto Artists Programme (Italy)
- Gisborne International Music Competition
- Borletti-Buitoni Trust
- Winner ECHO Rising Star Competition
- Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award
- Royal Philharmonic Society Henderson Chamber Ensemble Award
- ChamberStudio Mentorship
- Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal Standard Life Competition
- Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition
- Sylva Gelber Award
- St Martin's-in-the-Fields Chamber Competition
- St John's Smith Square Young Artist Competition
- Giovani Musicisti International Music Competition
- Ivor Mairants Guitar Competition
- Certamen Internacional de Guitarra Classica “Francisco Tárrega”
- Admira Young Guitarist of the Year
- Berlin International Guitar Competition
- Enrico Mercatali Guitar Competition
- Brno International Guitar Competition
- Vienna Haydn chamber music competition
- Musicians’ Company Award
- American Protégé International Strings and Piano Competition
- Hattori Foundation Senior and Junior Awards
- In addition, students have been selected for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Ann and Peter Law Experience Scheme, the Philharmonia MMSF String Fellowship Programme, the LSO String Experience Scheme, Park Lane Group Young Artists, Pro Corda Leverhulme Fellowships, IMS Prussia Cove and Tillett Trust artists.
Former students are members of leading chamber ensembles and orchestras internationally, and many are among the most sought-after performers and teachers in the profession.
- Roberto González-Monjas Monjas (Violin 2013), conductor and soloist, Chief Conductor of the Musikkollegium Winterthur, Music Director of the Galicia Symphony Orchestra
- Jonathan Bloxham (Cello 2011), conductor, Music Director of Luzerner Theater, Conductor in Residence and Artistic Advisor of the London Mozart Playerts
- Maria Włoszczowska (Violin 2019), soloist
- Oliver Wass (Harp 2017), soloist, winner of the Gold Medal 2016
- Mithras Trio (Ionel Manciu violin 2021, Leo Popplewell cello 2022, Dominic Degavino piano 2019), first prize at the 10th Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition
- Heath Quartet, winners of the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award
- Jennifer Pike (Violin 2009), soloist
- David Coucheron (Violin 2008), concertmaster of Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
- Maxim Rysanov (Viola 2005), recipient of Classic FM/Gramophone Young Artist of the Year
- Lawrence Power (Viola 1996), soloist
- Tom Norris (Violin/Viola 1993), Co-Principal 2nd Violin, London Symphony Orchestra
- Janice Graham (Violin/Viola 1991), leader, English National Opera orchestra
- Clio Gould (Violin 1990), leader, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Candida Thompson (Violin 1990), Artistic Director and Leader of Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Philip Dukes (Violin 1989), soloist and teacher
- Anthony Marwood (Violin 1987), soloist, director, chamber musician
- Tasmin Little (Violin 1986), soloist
- Masayuki Kino (Violin 1985), soloist, solo concertmaster for the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
- Alison Martin, Principal Harp, English National Opera
- Katherine Thomas, Principal Harp, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Fontane Liang, Principal Harp, Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Guitar alumni include
- George Tarlton (Guitar 2015), 1st prize, London International Guitar Competition
- Francesco Scelzo (Guitar 2012) 1st prize, Ivor Mairants International Guitar Competition; 1st prize, Brno International Guitar Competition; 1st prize, “Enrico Mercatali” European Guitar Competition; 3rd prize, Berlin International Guitar Competition
- Ahmed Dickinson (Guitar 2009) Ahmed Dickinson plays Ñico Rojas CD, winner of Best Instrumental Soloist & Best Instrumental Album categories, Cubadisco 2009 (Cuban Music Record Industry Awards)
- Jorgen Skogmo (Guitar 2006) 1st prize, Bath International Guitar Competition 1999; 1st prize, Ivor Mairant Guitar Competition, London 2002; Certamen Internacional de Guitarra Classica Francisco Tárrega (Benicassim, Spain), Finalist and Premio del publico prize winner 2005.
- David Miller (Guitar 1979) Ravish’d with Sacred Extacies CD, Supersonic Award by Pizzicato Magazine, 2010
