Five years ago, Leeds Conservatoire launched the BA (Hons) Actor Musician programme. It explores the intersection between music and drama, allowing students to develop skills in acting, music, movement, spoken and sung voice, and performance-based research. The programme fuses the teaching expertise of acting professionals and the music conservatoire, and its unique design is offered by only a few other institutions in the UK.
In Italy, the home country of student Valentina Zanella, no such programme existed. It’s the reason why she sought a creative education in the UK — a traditional acting degree would’ve hindered her from developing her music skills, while a full-on music programme wasn’t quite what she was looking for either. Not only did Leeds Conservatoire merge her two passions, but it also stood out to Zanella for the way it champions equality and inclusion.
“What I love about the programme is that it doesn’t channel you in one way of doing things, but it gives you the tools to build your own way of working,” she says. “So we looked at different voice and movement techniques and different practitioners, which are all useful to grow as an actor, but it doesn’t mean that you have to use everything all the time, however. You have the tools that are required to face different situations and environments.”
The music and performing arts education at Leeds Conservatoire is ever evolving, having paved the way for many new developments since its opening in 1965. In 1993, the conservatoire launched the first jazz degree in Europe, and it would continue to expand its curriculum to offer programmes that you can’t easily find elsewhere. In 2004, it became the first conservatoire in the UK to introduce programmes in Popular Music and Music Production.
Pioneering programmes, state-of-the-art facilities, and strong partnerships — this is where career-ready musicians, performers, producers, and entrepreneurs are made.
Leeds Conservatoire has been a pioneer in music education since 1965. Source: Leeds Conservatoire
Adapting to industry needs
Leeds Conservatoire is set to update its portfolio once again.
The new BA (Hons) Voice (Performance and Pedagogy) is a three-year programme designed for aspiring professionals and teachers to refine their techniques across various musical styles, with the option to focus on a specific genre, such as pop, jazz, folk, or others. As per the running theme, it’s the first in the UK. Kari Bleivik — the Head of Popular Music and Voice — was inspired to develop the programme having experienced different types of work rooted in voice use or voice facilitation.
“There are so many different types of job opportunities for voice professionals, but most voice-related conservatoire education focuses primarily on performance,” she says. “This module strand helps students learn how to be educators and facilitators in many different settings and contexts.”
Like all programmes at Leeds Conservatoire, the curriculum is comprehensive, providing you with in-depth knowledge on all things vocals, vocal anatomy and mechanics, vocal pedagogy, vocal health, and more. Faculty members bring theory to life with their extensive industry experience, both at the national and international levels. Training opportunities, masterclasses, guest lectures, and more enriching learning further.
“When we were working on creating the BA Voice programme, we had conversations with leading industry experts both in the UK and internationally, as well as our own staff, staff at other, similar institutions and our students and alumni,” says Bleivik. “This way we gather a lot of information about what the industry will require from our graduates, and also importantly what students feel they need in terms of skills, knowledge and support.”
That’s not all that’s new at Leeds Conservatoire. Film Music has adopted a new title: the BA (Hons) Film, TV & Games programme, cutting-edge music production training for composers who are looking to enter the screen industry. In 2026, the BA (Hons) Classical Music programme will introduce a new course titled “World Music,” aiming to challenge traditions across the globe with innovative perspectives and practices.
In the creative district of Leeds, you’re surrounded by the performing arts left, right, and centre, with, theatres, dance companies, music venues, and more. Source: Leeds Conservatoire
Ensuring access for all creatives
Leeds Conservatoire prioritises making creative arts education accessible to all. It’s a pioneer even in equity, as in 2019, it became the first conservatoire in the UK to waive all audition fees. “The community at the conservatoire is extremely diverse, and it’s something I find so enriching because you meet people with backgrounds different from yours and you can learn so much,” says Zanella. “There are plenty of occasions to meet people, either through social unions, student accommodation, or a collaboration between programmes.”
Ensuring student wellbeing beyond academics is key to achieving success, and Leeds Conservatoire understands this best. The Health and Wellbeing team provides targeted support for those facing performance-related issues, whether mental or physical, and it’s free. When the team noticed an increase in referrals to the service after the pandemic, they started to reform their approach to supporting student wellbeing. Today, students can access occupational therapists, Alexander technique practitioners, 1:1 therapeutic interventions, and more.
Check out Leeds Conservatoire to start building your performing arts career today.
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