"I've had an amazing amount of support from my tutors! They're always there for you and will always push you just the right amount."
India Ashberry: BA (Hons) Music (Classical) with Foundation Year
India Ashberry is a Leeds Conservatoire student in her final year of the BA (Hons) Music (Classical) with Foundation Year programme
Alongside her studies, India is a member of the LSCU Chorus and Opera Society.
What made you choose Leeds Conservatoire?
- The atmosphere. It's so welcoming, and everyone is so friendly!
- The amazing foundation year course. I had to do a foundation as I didn't have the UCAS points required for the first year, but I'm so glad I did it!
- The location. I hadn't really been to Leeds until I found Leeds Conservatoire. I love it so much and there's always stuff going on.
- The connections.
Has anything been totally different to what you expected when you started at Leeds Conservatoire?
Yes - the ability to mix with other courses. I have so many friends who study production or film music, which is great.
Also, I didn't expect there to be so many performance opportunities. I knew there would be a fair amount as I chose to study at a conservatoire, but there are so many more opportunities than I imagined there would be.
What is the most mind-blowing thing you've learned so far at Leeds Conservatoire?
I've learnt how to trust my voice and I've really grown in confidence.
Is there anything that has really made you push yourself as a musician or performer?
The amazing amount of support from my tutors! They're always there for you and will always push you just the right amount.
What was the best piece of advice you've had since starting at Leeds Conservatoire?
Get involved. I've met a lot of friends through extracurricular activities and freshers events.
What is your best memory from Leeds Conservatoire?
It has to be the choir tour to Barcelona! It was full of incredible people and amazing music.
What sort of accommodation are you living in? What advice would you give to new students about accommodation?
I live in a student flat. I would advise new students to avoid bringing lots of little things like I did as they become a bit of a pain to move! I learnt that fabric is a great way of making a room your own and it is relatively cheap from the market. Using fabric is a great way to put your own stamp on the room, in order to brighten up the blank walls.
What do you get up to outside of studying?
I'm part of the LSCU Chorus and Opera Society. I also work part-time as a bartender. I paint a lot and rearrange my room all the time. I love to shop and cook for my flat. A boogie also never goes a miss!
What is the best thing about living and studying in Leeds?
There's so much to do! There's always a kilo sale at Blue Rinse. There are always gigs (before covid) and good nights out. There are also so many good coffee shops and always something to do with your friends.
What advice would you give to a prospective student thinking of applying to your course?
If your ideal conservatoire is a small, close-knit, practical, supportive place - then apply!
What are your plans for after you've finished your course?
I plan to do early years teacher training, as that's where my love for music started. I really want to inspire children to love music in the same way that I was inspired. After training, I hope to do an opera masters and create a career portfolio that includes performing and teaching.
How would you describe your experience at Leeds Conservatoire so far in three words?
Supportive, fun and vibrant.
How has your Foundation Year helped to set you up for your next step?
For me, I was apprehensive about the foundation year. I was annoyed that I didn't have the grades to go straight to the first year as I had already taken a year out and felt behind. However, in hindsight, it has really helped me develop as a musician.
Although I had to revisit my grade 5 theory, it was a good opportunity to solidify what I knew (and learn a few extra pieces of information). The 1-1 and ensemble classes are tailored to you and your group, so this meant I was learning music at my level and not below.
You also get to choose your options. I completely went out of my comfort zone for these, and I am glad I did. I choose to study improvising, which I'm still not completely comfortable with yet but studying it helped me gain confidence. It also gave me an extra year to solidify my skills as a performer before entering into the degree course itself.
What advice would you give to a student who was unsure about whether to do a Foundation Year?
If you feel underconfident or worried about moving away and making friends, then it's a really great way to ease yourself in. The foundation year means you have an extra year to ease into how things work.
Find out more about our BA (Hons) Music (Classical) with Foundation Year programme.
Follow India on Instagram to keep up with her work.
