Music Scholarships
As a music college, we are inclusive in promoting enjoyment across many platforms, encouraging students to participate in a wide variety of music making, fostering a sense of autonomy, self-discipline, empathy and confidence. Students are encouraged and inspired to develop a lifelong passion for, and appreciation of music not only as performers and composers, but also as audiences, technicians and critics.
We demonstrate and celebrate talent via our rich co-curricular provision and instrumental schemes. We believe that the symbiotic relationship between the academic and performance aspects of music ensure the development of high standards of achievement through learning, rehearsing and teaching.
Music scholarships are available for musically talented students entering GCS Sixth.
Sixth Form Instrumental / Vocal Scholarship (External)
This will be awarded by audition, to an external candidate going into Year 12. The successful candidate is likely to have Grade 5 theory or be at a proven equivalent standard. They will be at or above ABRSM / Trinity Guildhall Grade 6 standard or equivalent and will show a high level of technical proficiency and interpretive control on their instrument. Enthusiasm, potential and aptitude for music are the most important considerations.
The candidate’s application should be accompanied by proof of qualification or equivalent standard and a letter of recommendation, where possible, from a music teacher, detailing the candidate’s contribution to their current school’s musical life and or general wider musical involvement. The scholarship will cover the candidate’s individual music lessons on their main instrument throughout their time at GCS Sixth.
We have an expectation that students will also apply for A level Music or Music technology courses as part of their application.
Music Scholarship (Internal)
This will be awarded by audition, to an instrumentalist or vocalist going into Year 12. The successful student is likely to have Grade 5 theory. They will be at a proven equivalent standard be at or above ABRSM /Trinity Guildhall Grade 6 standard or equivalent and will show a high level of technical proficiency and interpretive ability.
The candidate will already have a proven track record of contributing to school music making. The scholarship will cover the candidate’s individual music lessons on their main instrument throughout GCS Sixth. Enthusiasm, potential and aptitude for music are the most important considerations.
Music Instrumental Scholarship (Internal)
This will be awarded by audition, to an instrumentalist going into Year 10.
The successful student is likely to be at or above ABRSM Grade 5 standard or equivalent and will show a good level of technical proficiency and interpretive ability on their instrument. The student will already have a proven track record of contributing to school music making. The scholarship will cover the student’s individual music lessons on their main instrument throughout Year 10 and Year 11.
Conditions
The successful candidates for all scholarships will be expected to maintain a good rate of progress and take a full part in any co-curricular music ensembles / choirs deemed appropriate by and in discussion with the Director of Music, attending designated rehearsals and performances.
All students awarded a Music Scholarship will be invited to join and take an active part in the Music Council, led by our Music Ambassadors.
The school reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship should the pupil fail to maintain satisfactory progress or be unwilling to participate in agreed, designated co-curricular ensembles / choirs.
Individual music lessons would normally be expected to take place in school with our own visiting instrumental musicians and there is an expectation that students applying in Year 12 will take one of the A Level Music Courses.
Timetable
Letters of application, detailing reasons why candidates consider themselves suitable and of no more than 300 words, should be sent to Mrs Caroline Gale, Director of Music at Guildford County School cgale@guildfordcounty.co.uk by Friday 28th November 2025.
A closed audition will take place on Friday 17th April 2026, from 3.30-5pm.
Candidates will be invited to prepare a programme of music selected to demonstrate their musical character and personality, alongside their technical ability on a single instrument or voice of between 6 and 8 minutes duration. A copy of the music to be performed should be sent to the Director of Music no later than two weeks in advance of the audition date.
Candidates should make it clear at this stage whether they will require an accompanist from Guildford County School or whether they will be using their own accompanist.
For internal applications Year 9 into Year 10 - the programme will be two contrasting pieces.
Following the audition, candidates will have a short viva where they will have the opportunity to discuss the music they have performed and talk about how they would benefit from, and contribute to, musical life at Guildford County School.
Awards will be made entirely at the discretion of the school. The Director of Music is always happy to see prospective music students and their parents for an informal interview ahead of auditions.
