Guildhall School of Music & Drama

28/08/2026

Reliving some Summer Schools highlights ☀️

Over 1,000 of you joined us for a summer of creativity, collaboration, performance.

Now the official photos are in, we’re sharing a few of our favourite moments from this year’s Summer Schools. Take a look and see if you can spot yourself!

📸 Photos by Paul Cochrane

27/08/2026

"I found the journey from first rehearsal, all the way up to the concert, particularly fascinating." 🥹

From assisting guest conductors and leading rehearsals to teaching a conducting workshop and touring Catalunya, 2025/26 LSSO Conductor in Residence Sitali Dewan has fully embraced her time in her role.

Ahead of her final concert with the young musicians, we caught up with Sitali to find our more about her year with the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, the lessons she'll take away and her plans for the future.

Read the full interview ⤵
https://shr.pn/Ahol

📝 Applications to be the next LSSO Conductor in Residence are now open, closing at 9am on 7 September. More info at the bottom of the article.

From assisting guest conductors and leading rehearsals to teaching a conducting workshop and touring Catalunya, 2025/26 LSSO Conductor in Residence Sitali Dewan has embraced her time in the role.

26/08/2026

🎼"Be curious and explorative, in both your music making and your listening."

Composer, performer and field-recordist CJ Brooke has had quite the journey through Guildhall School, from starting as a young musician Guildhall Young Artists Norwich to flourishing on as an undergraduate on the BMus Composition programme.

We caught up with CJ to talk about their journey, memorable moments and the advice they'd give to the next generation of young musicians.

Read the full interview ⤵
https://shr.pn/1ZFQ

📝Applications to study Music at Guildhall in 2027 are open across undergraduate and postgraduate, closing on 1 October.

From Guildhall Young Artists (GYA) Norwich to studying BMus undergraduate course at Guildhall School, CJ Brooke shares their journey, creative inspirations and advice for the next generation of young musicians.

24/08/2026

We are very saddened to hear of the passing of mezzo-soprano Laura Sarti FGS.

A professor and Fellow of Guildhall School since the 1970s, Laura inspired generations of vocal students over several decades, sharing her passion, enthusiasm and expertise. Still teaching at the School at the age of 90, she retired from her position in 2014.

As a distinguished teacher of so many singers, Laura gained an international reputation, delivering vocal masterclasses in the UK, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Ireland and Portugal.

Before beginning her teaching career, Laura enjoyed a successful operatic career, singing with the English National Opera, Welsh National Opera and Glyndebourne. She was also a founding cast member of both the Kent Opera and Scottish Opera.

We share our condolences with her family, friends, colleagues and students. She will be sorely missed.

Photo credit: Norbert Meyn.

21/08/2026

“It felt like a total creative explosion.” 💥

From 13 July - 7 August, we opened our doors to over 1000 Summer School participants from all over the world.

Here, we catch up with three of this year's participants, Peter from Switzerland, Tori from Singapore and Jermaine from the Netherlands, to hear more about their experiences and why they chose a Guildhall Summer School.

Read as they talk to us about:

✨ Their course highlights
✨ The skills they’ve learnt for the future
✨ How they spent their free time in London
✨ Any advice they’d give to people thinking of attending

Head to the link in comments to read the full interview ⤵

20/08/2026

We’re delighted to see three Guildhall School Alumni nominated in The Stage Debut Awards 2026 ✨

Huge congratulations to:

✨ Ed Zanders (Composition 2016) - Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer for Thespians
✨ Levi Brown (Acting 2021) - Best West End Debut Performer in Cyrano de Bergerac
✨ Kate Phillips (Acting 2014) - Best West End Debut Performer in The Weir

The Stage Debut Awards celebrate emerging actors and creatives from across the industry. The winners will be announced on 27 September in London.

Best of luck to Ed, Levi and Kate!🤞

See more information and the full list of nominees via the link in comments ⤵

19/08/2026

🎭 Thinking about teaching in the performing arts? Join us for one of our PGCert in Performance Teaching Online Open Evenings.

It's your chance to explore how this Masters-level qualification can help to develop your creative and pedagogical practice.

You'll also hear directly from programme lead Carlos Lopez Real, learn how the PGCert can support your teaching, and have the chance to ask any questions about the course.

Online Open Evening dates:
• Monday 11 January 2027
• Monday 8 March 2027

Book your place ⤵
https://shr.pn/WGJ8

13/08/2026

Best of luck to everyone receiving their A-level, T-level and BTec results today! 🤗

We're looking forward to welcoming you all in September. Ahead of that, you'll need to upload your results onto your eGo application portal.

You can find details on how to do this here 👇
https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/apply-to-guildhall/academic-entry-criteria

If you have any questions about the academic conditions of your offer or uploading your results, you can email your Admissions Coordinator.

12/08/2026

"Seeing the bands perform inspired me to start a band with one of my fellow young producers." 🎶

Last month nine young producers from Music Education Islington (MEI) brought New Sounds Festival to life at Milton Court. We caught up with producers Peter and Lydia to hear a little more about the festival.

From promoting the festival on social media to finding out what happens behind the scenes, the young producers learnt a lot about what goes into curating a festival.

Read the full interview ⤵
https://shr.pn/MbY5

Since 2023, MEI have given young musicians aged 13-25 the chance to produce their own festival, with mentoring from arts professionals.

11/08/2026

We are very saddened to hear of the passing of David Gowland, Artistic Director of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Artists Programme.

David was a close friend and supporter of Guildhall School and will be sorely missed. Whether through his time on our coaching staff, working with our students as a visiting artist, or creating invaluable opportunities for our talented young artists to experience performing at the highest professional standard, David has left a mark on countless Guildhall students and alumni.

This includes many who went on to become Jette Parker Artists and who, alongside generations of the finest emerging performers, were given the strongest of professional foundations under David's guidance, mentorship and care.

We share our condolences with David's family, friends and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Remembering David Gowland (1963-2026)