Institut Klassik offers budding soloists an ideal setting for their studies as a springboard to a successful career. Here, their individual artistic and communicative talents are optimally nurtured by the inspiring collaboration of the institutes on campus. This specialisation gives you enough time to expand and consolidate your skills on an individual basis.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance, Studienrichtung Solistin/Solist
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 120
- Next start
- 14.9.2026
- Duration
- 4 semesters
- Staying abroad
- Possible
- Application fee
- 200 CHF
- Semester fee
- 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)
At a glance
- Developing an independent artistic/interpretive profile
- Targeted preparation for own concert and competition activities
- Bringing competencies – whether instrument or voice – up to the highest international standards
Why study this?
With a soloist degree, graduates will acquire the foundation for a solo career or a prominent position in a first-class orchestra. Of course, combinations with chamber music or teaching activities are also possible. As an outstanding musical personality, they will help shape the musical landscape of the near future.
The Solo Performance Major is aimed at exceptionally talented instrumentalists or singers who aspire to a career as a soloist or a prominent position in a first-class orchestra.
What orchestra, choir and large projects exist at the Basel Academy of Music?
Orchestra
The orchestra of the academy of music Basel is an important part of Music Performance and performs under the guidance of internationally renowned conductors such as Heinz Holliger, Ronald Zollman, Jonathan Nott, and Gábor Takács-Nagy, primarily large-scale repertoire works from the 19th and 20th centuries, often also in collaboration with the music academies in Lucerne, Geneva and Zurich.
Works performed included:
Franz Schubert: Messe in Es-Dur für Chor, Soli und Orchester, D 950
György Ligeti: Atmosphères
Richard Wagner: Vorspiel zum 1. Akt der Oper Lohengrin
Gustav Mahler: Sinfonie Nr. 4 G-Dur für Sopran und Orchester
Arthur Honnegger: Le Roi David für Soli, Chor, Blaser und grosses Schlagwerk
Gustav Mahler: Sinfonie Nr. 1 (Der Titan)
Richard Strauss: Suite aus der Oper Der Rosenkavalier
Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem für Soli, Chor und Orchester op. 45
Richard Wagner: Vorspiel zum 1. Akt der Oper Lohengrin Gustav Mahler: Sinfonie Nr. 4 G-Dur für Sopran und Orchester
Chamber Academy
The Chamber Academy Basel, the chamber orchestra of the Basel Academy of Music, performs without a conductor under the direction of the concertmaster, playing solo concertos and orchestral works from the Baroque period to the 20th century, often with professors from the academy as soloists.
Chamber choir
The chamber choir is considered the concert choir of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW. In addition to demanding a cappella vocal music, the chamber choir, conducted by Martin Wettges, also performs works with orchestra. Those who sing in the chamber choir are exempt from participating in the ‘large choir’. Chamber choir can also be taken as an elective subject. Participants must pass an entrance exam. Most of them receive voice training or attend lessons with singing teachers. The choir conducting class is also involved, leading sectional and full rehearsals.
Works performed included:
Franz Schubert (1797–1828): Messe in Es-Dur für Chor, Soli und Orchester, D 950
Heinrich Schütz jubiliert – Glückwünsche aus dem Jenseits mit Musik von Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi, Johann Hermann Schein, Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Johannes Brahms, Hugo Distler, Knut Nystedt und Heinrich Schütz
Concert encore F. M. Bartholdy: Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen Excerpt: Schubert's Messe Es-Dur
Large Choir
All first- and second-year Bachelor's students sing in the large choir of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW. The focus is on discovering one's own voice, targeted voice training and a general introduction to choir singing and the a cappella vocal repertoire. One concert is held per semester. In addition to Martin Wettges, guest conductors also regularly lead this choir.
Final concerts
The final concerts offer students of all study courses at the Basel Academy of Music a unique opportunity to perform publicly as a soloist on the main stage, accompanied by the Sinfonieorchester Basel or the Kammerorchester Basel.
The selection process takes place within the framework of an internal university competition.
Structure and programme contents
The two-year programme focuses on developing a soloist profile and specialisation. Internationally renowned lecturers pass on their experience, motivate and encourage their students. In addition to the students own concert and competition activities, the greatest importance is attached to work on the instrument/voice.
Performing as a soloist with renowned orchestras
The university organises solo concerts with orchestras (Sinfonieorchester Basel or Kammerorchester Basel) for soloists. Master's students have the opportunity to distinguish themselves in solo concerts with large ensembles, as well as to find and develop their own musical language in a wide variety of contexts.
Modules and Reglements
The BA and MA degree programmes at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.
The legally binding structure provides an initial guide to the content and weighting of the subjects on the degree programme.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The study regulations come into force together with the study and examination regulations of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW and form the legal framework.
Structures
Majors: everything DESPITE Singing, Piano, Organ, Percussion, Trumpet
Structure MA SP Klassik Solo Performance Major everything despite the following in German
Major: Singing
Structure MA SP Klassik Solo Performance Major: Singing in German
Major: Piano
Structure MA SP Klassik Solo Performance Major: Piano in German
Major: Organ
Structure MA SP Klassik Solo Performance Major: Organ in German
Major: Percussion
Structure MA SP Klassik Solo Performance Major: Percussion in German
Major: Trumpet
Structure MA SP Klassik Solo Performance Major: Trumpet in German
Module descriptions
Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW universities.
- Switch the language settings to English.
- Filter by semester, Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW, the desired degree programme or other criteria to display the relevant module information.
- Use the PDF button to call up a document from each overview and save it for yourself.
- Course registrations are made via the intranet.
Study Regulations
Lecturers
Institut Klassik
Visiting Professors and Master classes
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialized Music Performance programme with the Major soloist, applicants must be awarded a Bachelor in Music/Music and Movement or equivalent as well as they have to have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places). Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time and have passed the first round of the entrance exam will be invited to play a live audition.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Study regulation of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialized Music Performance.
To transfer to the MA SP Soloist, internal students must complete the regular aptitude assessment. Further requirements are:
- The consent of the Major professor (to be submitted with the registration)
- Having passed the aptitude assessment
- Availability of a place to study
We recommend having sufficient German language skills.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.
Dates
Registration
You may apply between 15th December and 1st March.
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.
On-site
The live auditions will take place at the end of April. The exact dates may be seen here.
Announcement of the results
The results of the first round will be communicated by mail at the end of March.
The results of the second round will be communicated by mail at the beginning of May.
Procedure
The entrance exam is split into the first round, which is held “by video”, and the second one, which is a live audition.
Procedure
First round: Video recordings
Applicants must submit a video when registering.
Repertoire requirements
Video requirements
- Each work/movement must be recorded from a fixed camera perspective and without any cuts.
- The hands and the face of the musician must be visible.
- It is recommended to use a suitable stereo microphone and place it conveniently.
- The recordings must not be older than 6 months.
- Publicly recorded concerts may be submitted as long as they meet the above-mentioned requirements.
Please upload the videos onto YouTube and add the links to your application. If you submit one single video of the complete programme, please set markers so that the individual works/movements can be selected directly.
Only those applicants who will be considered for the second round will be invited for the live audition.
Second round: Live audition
The repertoire to be performed (see Repertoire requirements) may be identical to the one submitted in the video. Please include the list of works in your application. Changes of the programme are only possible until 14 days before the live audition.In such a case, please send the updated list of works in time to registration.hsm@fhnw.ch.
The choice of the programme may be identical as the one of the video. However, changes of the programme for the live audition can only be made until 14 days prior to the audition date.
The candidate may choose the first piece. Afterwards, the jury will select from the prepared repertoire and may interrupt the audition at any time. After the audition, there will be a short conversation about the goals and contents of the study programme, the applicant’s previous education, career objectives, preferred teacher, etc.
Organisational matters
Projects / Ensembles
At Hochschule für Musik Basel, students have the opportunity to participate in various project and ensemble programmes.
To the overview of the recurring offers.
Quicklinks
Advising and information events
Contact
Student Administration Academy of Music, Klassik
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 32 (Direct)
- klassik.hsm@fhnw.ch
Prof. Imke Frank
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 57 (Central office)
- imke.frank@fhnw.ch
Information events
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Registration
The registration window is open from 15th December to 1st March.
MA Specialised Performance | Solo performance
- Date
- 14.9.2026
- Duration
- 4 semesters
- Place
- Campus Musik-Akademie Basel