Admission criteria
In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialized Musical Performance programme with the Major chamber music, applicants must be awarded a Bachelor in Music/Music and Movement or equivalent as well as they must have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places).
Only fixed ensembles of at least 3 musicians will be considered.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Studienreglement of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialized Music Performance.
Required skills
The ensemble must possess the following:
- a basic repertoire, a shared musical biography and a clear vision of the professional profile they wish to develop, a recognisable and distinctive ensemble sound, stage presence, Master’s level musical and instrumental skills, as well as the ability to lead and accompany other musicians;
- technical mastery of the instrument;
- excellent musical expression abilities and outstanding musical expressiveness;
- the ability to convincingly defend one’s own interpretational choices;
- relevant stage performance experience and a self-assured stage presence.
Thanks to intensive exposure to different styles of music coupled with thorough practical training, graduates of the FHNW Master of Arts programme in Specialised Music Performance with a Chamber Music Major leave with a highly specialised and exceptional professional qualification.
Language Skills
We recommend having sufficient German language skills.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is split into the first round, which is held “by video”, and if necessary, the second one, which is a live audition.
Procedure
First round: Video recordings
Applicants must submit a video when registering.
Video requirements
The length of the video should be minimum 20 minutes to maximum 30 minutes. It should contain a representative selection of the repertoire requirements.
The single works/movements submitted must indispensably be recorded without any cuts. If applicants submit one straight video with the whole programme, the applicant must set marks after every work/movement so that it is possible for the jury to purposely skip within the video.
Microphone: We recommend using a suitable stereo microphone and place it conveniently. If necessary, you may also use the microphone of a camera, computer, or smartphone.
Please record the video from a fixed point of view. The hands and the face of the musicians must be visible. Publicly recorded concerts may be submitted as long as they correspond to the above-mentioned requirements (no cuts) and as long as they are not older than 6 months. Please upload the video onto Youtube and add the link to your list of works and in the registration tool.
Please add the list of works to your application or send it by mail to cmVnaXN0cmF0aW9uLmhzbUBmaG53LmNo until 15th February at the latest.
Only those applicants who will be considered for the second round will be invited for the live audition.
If necessary, the candidates will be invited for an audition.
Dates
The live auditions will take place at the end of April. The exact dates may be seen here.
Registration
You may apply between 15th December and 15th February. Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents: A curriculum vitae, a motivational letter, the school leaving qualification, the Bachelor Diploma. In case that the applicant already holds a Master Diploma, we also need a copy of that.
Announcement of the results
The results of the first round will be communicated by mail at the middle of March.
The results of the second round will be communicated by mail in May.
