COST

An application fee of £25 is due when applying with the online form.

The participation fee for the classes (active participation) is £550 due within 7 days of notification of acceptance to the classes. Please note that all payments are non-refundable.

The Chamber Group fee is paid per group, not per person i.e. total cost is £550.

Passive participation (i.e. listening to the classes) is free for musicians who applied to the classes but were unsuccessful in the active selection.

The classes are also open to audience with tickets on sale online.

BURSARIES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

A limited number of bursaries may be available but are not guaranteed. Please specify in the “other” field in the application form if you need financial assistance.

APPLICATION

Applications for the 2026 London Master Classes are now open. The deadline for applications is 8th May 2026 11:59pm. Participants will be notified by Sunday 24th May.

We request links to 2 videos of contrasting repertoire totalling a minimum of c. 15 minutes, uploaded via YouTube (unlisted, or public). The videos must be live recordings.

Applications are open to students aged 18 and over only.

CLASSES

Participants of the violin and cello classes will have 4 (four) lessons; two with each of the faculty.

Participants of the piano and chamber groups classes will have at least 3 (three) lessons, with frequency to be determined by the faculty.

David Waterman’s class for Chamber Groups is open for applications from duos and larger.

Students are encouraged to listen to other classes. All classes are open to the public.

Class pianists will be provided for the violin and cello classes. It will not be possible to rehearse with the pianists in advance of lessons, but if you are selected to perform in the concert then a short rehearsal will be scheduled.

REPERTOIRE

Students are required to present a variety of works of their free choice and sufficient for multiple lessons, for example: a concerto, classical work, romantic work, and a solo piece. For the violin and cello classes, the inclusion of an unaccompanied solo work is compulsory, in the event that a class will be scheduled whilst the class pianists are rehearsing for the concerts.

ACCOMMODATION, MEALS, FACILITIES, ATTENDANCE

Accommodation and meals are not provided.

Early booking of accommodation and travel is strongly advised. The London Master Classes may be able to offer a suggestion for accommodation nearby, however this will likely be basic student hall accommodation (i.e. with a shared bathroom).

Please note that practice facilities are limited and students should expect to practice at their accommodation. Warmup rooms will be available at the Royal Academy of Music, however preference for practice should be given to pianists and chamber ensembles who may not have access to pianos at their accommodation.

Please note that participants are responsible for their own visa requirements to enter the UK.

SCHEDULE

The classes will run every day and a schedule will be provided to the applicants prior to arrival. Lessons will last 1hr. 

CONCERT

Student concert(s) will be scheduled including at Steinway Hall on Thursday 16th July evening (for pianists) and at RAM on Friday 17th July evening. Not all participants will be selected to play due to programming and timing constraints. Other concerts may be programmed.

RECORDING

Lessons and concerts may be recorded (audio and video) by the London Master Classes for promotional and archival use. In applying for the masterclasses, you grant consent to this recording, and for the London Master Classes to own and use freely any recorded material in the future. Students are welcome to record their lessons or concerts for non-commercial use using their own devices.

GENERAL

The above information is for guideline purposes and London Master Classes reserves the right to make changes.