Some of the most vibrant artists today nurtured their talents, skills, and ambitions in the heart of Leeds’s cultural quarter. Marija Clara, a singer-songwriter now based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has performed for Pope Francis and sold out headline shows. Aamir Yaqub, a producer, engineer, and writer, won a Grammy for his work on Rihanna’s “Unapologetic” album.
To achieve that same level of success, trace their stories – and they all take you to the leading multidisciplinary Leeds Conservatoire. Set in one of the best UK cities for live music, this is where career-ready musicians, performers, and entrepreneurs are born.
Leeds Conservatoire was originally founded as Leeds Music Centre in 1965 and is today the UK’s largest interdisciplinary conservatoire. Source: Leeds Conservatoire
Invest in your postgraduate artistry
Leeds Conservatoire has long been a place where new ideas in the performing arts are launched. It created Europe’s first-ever jazz degree and designed various postgraduate programmes that empower creatives to grow into confident, industry‑ready professionals. Courses are focused, practical, and closely linked to real‑world work, with plenty of chances to perform and test out what you’ve learned.
This year, Leeds Conservatoire is evolving once more. It is splitting the MA Music programme into several specialised pathways, giving students a more personalised way to study.
“The previous MA Music programme was really good. We’ve managed to maintain that sense of creativity, freedom, and exploration in the new programmes,” says Professor Ben Gaunt, Principal Lecturer at the School of Music and Education.
Gaunt has been working at Leeds Conservatoire since 2015 and has been facilitating the introduction of the new courses, ensuring a smooth transition for staff and new students, designing assessments, and creating course materials.
Now, students can pursue the MA Music programme through one of six pathways, including, Classical or Jazz. Taking place over the span of one intensive year, each programme comprises five modules. As a student, you’ll have the chance to focus on your main area of study, whether that’s classical piano or jazz bass, while also conducting experimental, cross-genre projects that encourage you to explore.
Classical and jazz are by no means the only pathways in music that you can undertake at Leeds Conservatoire. If you’re all-in on pop culture, the MA Popular Music programme offers different routes for you to break into the scene, much like the MA Music — as a Performer, Songwriter, Writer Performer, and Writer Producer. Looking to grow your professional skills in mixing and recording? The MA Music Production can take your career to the next level.
Say you dream of becoming a composer, lyricist, or librettist in musical theatre, building on a more general performing arts bachelor’s, then the MA Musical Theatre Writing is for you. It’s the first and only programme of its kind in the UK. Spanning one year, the programme is equipped to build your confidence across all elements of musical theatre writing as you work with leading composers, lyricists, directors, and creative practitioners. It’s a process that lets you gain real-time feedback as you bring your ideas to life.
“British developed musical theatre is one of our greatest cultural exports, and without investing in the writers of tomorrow, we could potentially miss the next Tim Rice, George Styles, Leslie Bricusse or Andrew Lloyd Webber,” says Scott Harrison, Postgraduate Coordinator for the School of Drama. “At Leeds Conservatoire, we want to be part of that history.”
From classical pianists to composers for film, TV, and games, Leeds Conservatoire’s diverse alumni network is leaving their mark across the world. Source: Leeds Conservatoire
What close collaboration looks like
Collaboration is the cornerstone of the conservatoire experience, and at Leeds Conservatoire, this takes shape in different ways. For example, students in the Classical and Jazz programmes have access to hour-long, one-on-one sessions with specialists in their discipline and leaders in the arts. Seminars, ensemble classes, and lectures often involve the full MA cohort, which means that you can connect with students from other programmes.
“Throughout the year, we invite professional musicians to deliver workshops, masterclasses, and perform gigs,” says Gaunt. “MA students are invited to join undergraduate activities too, meaning they have even more opportunities to learn from industry figures.”
As part of the MA Musical Theatre Writing programme, the Leeds Theatre Festival was first created as an in-house event for postgraduate students to display their final assessments. With the support of the conservatoire and professional partners, it’s become so much more. It is now a growing public theatre festival that involves students, theatre companies, and individuals.
“This year so far, we have had students work with internationally renowned writers, producers, composers, agents and casting directors,” says Harrison, who plans the curricula for the School of Drama’s MA pathways. “We go further than this by considering the broader skillsets that young artists need, including social media marketing and brand recognition for artists.”
As the arts are increasingly a business, you’ll be guided not only through your craft but also on how to be an entrepreneur. Assignments on self-promotion and navigating the music business will guide you through creating an electronic press kit and funding application, to name just two examples. You’ll also learn how to create a pitch and receive feedback from professionals.
Choose a creative MA that fits your craft
Postgraduate study at Leeds Conservatoire recognises that a creative career rarely follows a single script. Its MA programmes reflect the breadth of today’s creative industries, spanning areas such as Live Events Management, Directing, and Musical Theatre Company. Each pathway allows you to refine your craft while building the professional insight required to work at the highest levels of the performing arts.
Inspired? Pursue your specialised MA degree at Leeds Conservatoire today.
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