Summer Baroque Course
This is an annual, intensive five-day course for aspiring professional baroque musicians. In 2026, we invite applications from singers and players of string, keyboard and wind instruments. The course takes place in the state-of-the-art Laidlaw Music Centre, at the University of St Andrews. It is taught by a fantastic team of renowned practitioners, led by violinist Lucy Russell.
The course offers masterclasses, individual lessons, and chamber or ensemble coaching. Despite a busy timetable, there will be time to relax in the beautiful surroundings of historic St Andrews, to wander in the ruins of the cathedral, and to enjoy an ice cream on the beach.
Dates
Monday 10 August 2026 to Friday 14 August 2026 inclusive.
Most course places will be offered between Monday 11 May 2026 and Friday 22 May 2026. For those outside the UK who need to book travel tickes before this time, please email Tom Wilkinson at taw21@st-andrews.ac.uk requesting an early offer of a place.
Fee
£550.00
Age range
18 to 35
The course is primarily aimed at aspiring professional musicians, or those in the early stages of a musical career, however, if you are an established professional of any age who is branching out into baroque performance practice, we would welcome an application from you.
The course also welcomes groups of amateur instrumentalists, such as duos, trios, quartets. Those on the amateur strand will receive individual and group coaching and will play in the full course ensemble. The amateur strand lower age limit is 18 and there is no upper limit.
How to apply
To apply, please fill out the online application form and provide a CV that includes a history of your education and employment to date.
Please also supply links to solo performance videos of two contrasting pieces of baroque repertoire of at least six minutes in total. The videos can be hosted on YouTube, Dropbox, Vimeo, or another platform.
If you are a keyboard player, one of your pieces should show you playing continuo in a group setting.
Application deadline
Friday 8 May 2026, 5pm
A number of scholarships and bursaries, worth 50% and 100% of the course fee, are available.
The University of St Andrews reserves the right to alter the course, including the faculty and schedule, where this is found to be unavoidable.
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