Leeds Conservatoire's Actor Musicianship programme offers practical training for actors with instrumental skill. Through practical skills training in Acting, Music, Movement, Spoken and Sung Voice and Performance-based Research you will develop the skills to be a highly employable, multi-disciplinary storyteller.

September 2027

Duration: 3 Years

UCAS Course Code(s): W321

UCAS Institution Code: L30

Apply Via: UCAS

Study Mode: Full time

Validated By: University of Hull

Course Overview

Intense Training

Training as an Actor Musician in a conservatoire environment puts you in a unique position. You will benefit from the teaching expertise of the music conservatoire, working with 1:1 instrumental teachers and the industry professional team delivering the BA Acting programme.

Training is physical, practical and demands consistent creativity. You are required to be fearless, as you acquire new skills and challenge those you arrived with. Training includes ensemble skills classes, 1:1 instrumental lessons, music ensembles, skills in context, seminars and rehearsals; culminating in a final year season of performance that serves as your industry introduction.

Spotlight and Equity Recognised

Our course is professionally recognised, which will allow graduates to gain full Equity and Spotlight membership upon graduation.

The programme celebrates individualism. You will develop your acting and music skills alongside your individual artistry, practically exploring ways of sustaining a portfolio career as a multi-disciplinary artist.

Creative Development

As an Actor Musician you are encouraged to develop creatively as well as technically; originating work and exploring established texts. Through practical exploration you will examine the musicality in acting and the drama in music, focusing on where they interconnect.

Collaboration

Actor Musicianship is a collaborative artform by design and collaboration is at the core of all we do at Leeds Conservatoire. On the Actor Musician programme, students spend their first weeks of training developing an ensemble practice, transforming a cohort into a company.

Regular collaboration with BA Acting students is central to the programme design, providing students with the broadest range of experience. Actor Musicians are encouraged to collaborate with music students - through bands, music festivals, live performance and music ensembles - further developing their instrumental craft and expanding their knowledge of musical styles and genres.

We actively encourage cross programme collaboration with artists from other disciplines throughout your training, supporting our ambition for students to establish a creative network in training, originate live performance and carry both into the profession. Throughout training, students are given the opportunity to collaborate with theatre companies and leading artists in the region developing new live performance.

"Across all elements of live performance there is a surge in the demand for the actor that can make music and support their performance with a breadth of instrumentalist skill. A training in Actor-Musicianship provides a crucial tool-kit for the emerging performer. It’s also an exhilarating and thrilling training merging a myriad of art forms.”

– Alexandra Spencer-Jones, Director/Artistic Director of Action to the Word

"The standard's so high; the people are really nice; the tutors are really on top of their game and the facilities are ridiculously nice! I don't really have a bad word to say about it."

- Niamh BA Drama

Course Structure

Apply, Audition & Fees

Course Facts & Documents

What You Will Study (See Modules and Specifications)

This course is a full-time, high-contact, vocational training programme which is taught in six academic terms over three years. Contact time averages 30 hours a week, across 30 teaching weeks each year.

The course has two core strands; Skills Training and Artistic Development. Time assigned to each adjusts each year to promote the transition from learner to independent artist.

Year 1 is dedicated to intensive skills training.

Fundamental techniques in Acting, Musicianship (Solo and Ensemble), Movement, Voice, Research for Performance.

Artistic development focused on understanding the individual's creative potential.

Students receive an allocation of one-to-one hours that can be dedicated to one or more instruments, including voice.

Year 2 builds on the skills from Year 1, with a focus on projects and industry partnerships.

Skills developed in year one are applied in the context of rehearsals and project-based work. Students are consistently engaged in creative processes, led by professionals with contrasting specialisms.

The project nature of year 2 allows maximum opportunity for industry partnership, develops the skills associated with a portfolio career and promotes creative dexterity in graduate performers.

Artistic Development shifts from understanding the individual to understanding the creative industries.

The final year of study provides the developing artist with a bridge to the profession.

Skills training becomes part of the individual’s artistic development.

Training is dedicated to a season of live performance for a public audience.

Students are showcased through the live performance season and create a portfolio of recorded performances, enabling them to market themselves professionally.

Having developed a culture of entrepreneurship through years 1 and 2, final year students are encouraged to exercise creative agency – making and featuring in performances.

Entry Requirements

96 UCAS tariff points from level 3 studies or equivalent, which normally include an A Level or BTEC Extended Diploma in an Acting or Music-related subject.

A minimum of three GCSEs including English Language at Grade C / Grade 4 or above or equivalent international qualification, eg IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each component).

Read our full entry requirements for more detail.

How to Apply

How to Apply via UCAS Guide

Apply via: UCAS Undergraduate (not Conservatoires)

Auditions

Applicants will need to audition.

Find more audition information for UK applicants and International applicants.

Leeds Conservatoire does not charge audition fees for any Undergraduate or Postgraduate course.

Fees & Funding

For detailed information regarding tuition fees, payment options, and financial support:

Please visit our Fees and Funding page.

View our Actor Musician kit list for clothing and equipment requirements.

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, visit our dedicated International section of the website for information on:

How To Apply

International Entry Requirements

Fees & Funding for International Students

Course Type: Undergraduate, Single Honours

Duration: 3 years

Study Mode: Full Time

UCAS Code: W321

Validated by: University of Hull

Leeds Conservatoire plans to apply to the Office for Students for Degree Awarding Powers. If we are granted Degree Awarding Powers, your degree may be awarded by Leeds Conservatoire rather than validated by the University of Hull.

Programme Specifications

BA (Hons) Actor Musician Programme Specifications

Red Ladder Theatre Company Partnership

“With the costs of studying the performing arts going up and up, there has been much discussion about how students from outside London really struggle to attend conservatoire training because of financial barriers. It is really exciting that Leeds Conservatoire will now offer high quality training in Actor Musicianship, which will bring high calibre performers and musicians to the city of Leeds.

“As a Leeds-based, nationally renowned theatre company we look forward to partnering with Leeds Conservatoire to work with their new students.”

Rod Dixon, Red Ladder Theatre Company

Tutor profiles

Meet all course Tutors

Erin CarterHead of School of Drama

Specialisms: Drama, Storytelling, Writing, Directing, Movement Direction, Multi-Discipline Performance

Read more

about 'Erin Carter'

Laura BaxterAcademic Manager - School of Drama

Courses Taught: BA (Hons) Actor Musician

about 'Laura Baxter'

Christina FulcherMovement Co-ordinator: Acting, Actor Musician

Courses Taught: BA (Hons) Acting, BA (Hons) Actor Musician

about 'Christina Fulcher'

Dr Dermot DalySenior Lecturer: Acting

Courses Taught: BA (Hons) Acting, BA (Hons) Actor Musician, BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

about 'Dr Dermot Daly'

Donald EdwardsSenior Lecturer: Movement

Courses Taught: BA (Hons) Acting

about 'Donald Edwards'

Anita GilbertSenior Lecturer: Voice

about 'Anita Gilbert'

Drama Facilities - Playhouse Square, Mabgate and more

Our Drama students benefit from bespoke facilities in our Playhouse Square building.

Teaching will take place at our St Peters Square, Mabgate and Playhouse Square buildings as well as external teaching spaces where necessary.

We're confirming teaching spaces for 2027/28, but in previous years they included Slung Low Theatre Company in Holbeck, Dance Studio Leeds and Yorkshire Dance.

More Drama Facilities

“As a Yorkshireman, I am thrilled by the arrival of this course at Leeds Conservatoire. As someone who works extensively with actor-musicians, I cannot stress enough the importance of the unity between these two disciplines. It supports my belief in total theatre; skilled and holistic storytelling. Such a course opens up the potential of true inclusivity in our industry. And bottom line, that means work for all of us.”

– Simon Slater, Olivier-Winning Composer & Musical Director

BA Actor Musician Showcase 2025

Open Days

Our Open Days give you a real taste of student life at Leeds Conservatoire.

Meet with tutors and students, enjoy live performances, and explore our vibrant campus right in the heart of Leeds city centre.

Find out more

LCOM-EDGE-OVERLAYS

Images from Recent Productions

View Gallery

Dark Carnival, Credit: Cian's Cameras

Actor Musician Class of 2026

Click the button below to meet our graduates and explore the exciting next generation of Actor Musician talent.

See our Graduating Class of 2026

This course is delivered in partnership with

More partnerships

Partnership with University Centre Leeds Production Arts students helps bring our shows to life

University Centre Leeds students, studying Foundation Degrees in Design Realisation for Events, Stage and Screen and Technical Theatre and Stage Management, work side-by-side alongside students from Leeds Conservatoire on a variety of events and productions to provide essential backstage, design and technical support.

This exciting collaboration gives students the opportunity to forge valuable connections with their future theatre industry colleagues across a variety of behind-the-scenes and performance disciplines, whilst learning their craft.

Discover more about the partnership and how we’re working together to develop the next generation of theatre creatives.

View Production Arts Courses

How to find us

Leeds Conservatoire

3 Quarry Hill

Telephone:

hello@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk

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