Making the decision about where to study music or performing arts? Here are 12 reasons to choose Leeds Conservatoire...
A vibrant creative community
Want to be part of a vibrant community with great links to the creative industries? At Leeds Conservatoire, you will meet people specialising in music and the performing arts, as well as producers, managers and promoters. Our students have a strong reputation in Leeds and beyond, which makes Leeds Conservatoire the perfect place to launch your career.
Order your prospectusOur courses
Throughout our fifty years of delivering innovative, relevant education, we have constantly evolved our offering to keep up with the changing demands of the industry. Leeds Conservatoire is the largest conservatoire in the UK and offers a broad selection of music and drama disciplines to choose from, including brand new degrees in Acting and Actor Musician. With a flexible approach to modes of study, you can find the right course for your needs.
Browse our courses
Career opportunities
We focus on providing industry-relevant education and 97% of our students are in full time work or study within six months of graduating from the conservatoire, with around 80% working in the creative industries (DHLE 2017). We put this down to the incredible hard work and dedication of our students combined with the professional practice, performance opportunities and creative networks that they have accessed when studying at Leeds Conservatoire.
See what our graduates do
Our teaching
Our tutors have a wealth of industry experience, meaning they bring relevant, up-to-date professional knowledge into the classroom. Whether you study one-to-one with an expert in your chosen instrument, or develop your skills in specialist group study, you will be working with our leading tutors to develop your knowledge and technique.
Meet our tutorsWorld-class facilities
Our outstanding facilities are second-to-none, equipping you with the tools to learn and create. You’ll find industry-standard equipment and software in all of our studios – which are open until late during term-time. You’ll have access to high-spec rehearsal rooms, top-notch instrument and equipment loan, our Business Hub and bespoke specialist library complete with study space, vinyl archive and rare scores. Our new facilities in Playhouse Square include two purpose-built dance and drama studios and bespoke rehearsal spaces for our drama students. You can grab a drink or a snack at our on-site CaféBar and Rooftop Bar at St Peter's Square, which also feature regular pop-up performances!
See our facilitiesPerformance opportunities
Study at Leeds Conservatoire and you’ll find performance opportunities around every corner – starting with our own ensembles, choirs or orchestras. Our bespoke in-house performance spaces include a 350-seat Venue and intimate 120-seat Recital Room – which regularly hosts showcases such as Pop & Production night Crosswire, and Jazz night B-Side. Drama students can expect a range of in-house, studio-based performance projects throughout their training, which are designed to develop professional practice working with guest industry professional directors, choreographers and musical directors. Our strong festival partnerships have led to our students performing at Liverpool Sound City, Manchester Jazz Festival, London Jazz and even Eurosonic in the Netherlands.
Performance opportunitiesOur thriving city
Often named the best student city in the UK, Leeds is an exciting city with something for everyone. We have an amazing food and drink scene, fantastic independent shopping, strong sports scene and leading cultural institutions in ballet, opera, art and theatre. Leeds has one of the most vibrant music scenes in the UK with an impressive range of over 200 venues and regular events and festivals. With something going on all the time in this rich cultural city, Leeds is a fantastic backdrop to studying music or drama.
Leeds city guideOpportunities for collaboration
Collaboration is key for any professional performer, producer or creative entrepreneur. Whether you are working on a composition that needs a brass section, a performance piece which requires a dancer, or you need a producer for your band, you can find the people to bring your project to life at Leeds Conservatoire. With all aspects of the music and performance industries brought together under one roof, your future colleagues and collaborators could be studying right alongside you.
Build your professional network
You will have the chance to network with industry professionals – we have regular visits from A&R representatives from labels who want to check out the latest music from Leeds Conservatoire artists, great links for work experience across the region and regular masterclasses from industry guests.
Opportunities also arise to perform with acclaimed artists – our Musical Theatre students have performed at the Domino Club in Leeds with the cast of We Will Rock You, and here our students perform at Leeds Town Hall with Marc Almond.
Industry guests
Each year we have a varied masterclass schedule, which sees industry guests deliver inspirational guest lectures.
Recent guests include Grammy award winning mix engineer Andrew Scheps (Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Adele), stage manager Steve Pottinger (Robbie Williams, Lewis Capaldi), Jamiroquai’s Rob Harris and Paul Turner, renowned composers Nicholas Dodd and Jocelyn Pook, and prolific producers, Geo Jordan and Romesh Dodangoda, to name just a few.
A supportive environment
As a small and specialist institution, we are renowned for being a friendly conservatoire with a close-knit community. Our supportive tutors will help you to get the most out of your study, whilst our amazing Student Services team are on hand to offer help and guidance with all aspects of student life – including finance, accommodation options, health and wellbeing, and disability and study skills support.
Student services
Join our successful alumni
Study at Leeds Conservatoire and become one of our successful alumni! Our graduates have found success supporting the likes of Ed Sheeran and Adele, producing for Rihanna, performing in the West End, running national festivals and working at major media outlets like the BBC.
Meet our alumni
