Music
Music at Oxford (the yearly entry is around 65) it taught in small college cohorts, usually of between 2 and 6 students. St Catherine's takes a maximum of 4 new students per year, meaning that it is among the larger 'music' colleges. Music is more 'faculty' -based than some other humanities subjects, meaning that a good deal of your time is likely to be spent in the Music Faculty building on St Aldate's, which houses lecture-rooms, practice rooms, a large student library and an electronic and recording studio, as well as the Bate Collection of Early Instruments. The College nevertheless has its own Music House: a small purpose-built recital room, with a grand piano and a harpsichord, which doubles as a practice-room for College. All Music students at St Catherine's also have an electronic keyboard in their room, for use with headphones. College teaching is given by the Music tutor, Professor Peter Franklin, who is usually supported by two college lecturers. Class teaching linked to some subjects is offered by the Music Faculty; in other areas, tutors come in as required to help with other more specialized topics.
It is important to point out that while Professor Franklin’s areas of special interest are Mahler, early 20th-century opera and film music, the College offers tutorial support across the whole range of periods covered by the Music course. Oxford also has a remarkably busy musical life, and you will find that there are many orchestras and other ensembles, large and small, for which you may wish to audition.
The Oxford Course
Music has been part of the intellectual and cultural life of Oxford for more than eight centuries. The course, while retaining its traditional structure and aims, continues to develop. More information about studying Music in Oxford can be found on the Music Faculty website. The course is divided into an introductory year (leading to first-year examinations called ‘Honour Moderations’) and then two years leading up to Finals (called ‘Final Honour School’ examinations), which may include a variety of types of assessment, including performance recitals, portfolio ‘coursework’ submissions and three-hour examinations.
The course structure can be found on the University website.
A Typical Term at St Catherine’s
Working in small groups, and sometime even one-to-one, it is easy for us to adapt to individual needs and subject areas. It is therefore difficult to describe any term as ‘typical’. An average week for a second-year student at St Catherine’s might involve three or four Faculty lectures, a tutorial of one hour on topics in Music History and a tutorial of one hour on another study area, depending on choices you make in consultation with your tutor. In some weeks students might also have tutorials on other aspects of the course, again depending upon what which Finals papers they have chosen.
While in any week students will at some stage work directly with tutors, much of their term is spent listening, reading and writing independently, and pursuing individual instrumental study. Students need to be self-motivated and excited by playing and listening to music of all kinds, as well as thinking and writing about it.
Special Features of St Catherine’s Music
Since Music is more strongly Faculty-based than some Humanities subjects, the specific research interests of the main college tutors will not significantly affect what you study - you certainly do not have to share Professor Franklin’s interests in Mahler, opera and film-music, although you may do. At St Catherine’s College, students find themselves part of a mutually supportive group (of up to 12), who are often housed in College throughout their three years and have an electronic keyboard in their room for use with headphones.
Students also have access to the College’s fine Music House, which can be used as a small recital room, but is more generally used as the College’s dedicated practice-room, with special afternoon hours set aside for Music students. There is also a flourishing college Music Society that puts on concerts and arranges small ensembles of various kinds.
Other features that stand out at St Catherine’s include...
The Cameron Mackintosh Professorship
The Cameron Mackintosh Chair of Contemporary Theatre is based at the College, holders of which have included Diana Rigg, Tim Rice, Patrick Stewart, Kevin Spacey and Michael Frayn. Thanks to this the College has exceptional links with contemporary theatre; many of our students take an active part in acting, writing, and directing in Oxford and beyond.
The College Library
St Catherine’s has one of the larger college libraries in the university, a convenient place to work as well as borrow books, open till 12pm on weekdays during term.
Location
Although St Catherine’s is a 20-minute walk away from the Music Faculty, whichever way you go (through the centre of town or across Christ Church Meadow), the walk is nothing if not beautiful; a bicycle speeds things up considerably. The College is actually situated very close to the Holywell Music Room, one of the first purpose-built concert halls in the country (Haydn was one of the earliest of many major composers who have performed there), which functions as the Faculty’s main public performance venue. The walk to the Faculty through the centre of town takes you past the Bodleian Library (ten -minutes from the College) and the city-centre shops, including all the book-shops and Blackwells Music Bookshop (CDs, scores and text books).
Admissions in Music
Number of places usually available at St Catherine's: 4
Entrance requirements: please see the University website
Selection criteria: please see the Department website
WWe are very willing to consider offering deferred places to students wishing to take a ‘year off’ away from education. We are looking for commitment, enthusiasm, sensitivity to a wide range of music, and an ability to argue and write clearly. We also expect a basic ability at the keyboard (around ABRSM ‘Grade V’ level) and a more extensive ability in a ‘first-study’ instrument (which may include singing).
There is no St Catherine’s ‘type’—we select students entirely and exclusively on merit. We welcome students from all backgrounds. Undergraduates at St Catherine’s are a mix of women, men, state and independent students, including mature students, ethnic minority and overseas applicants. We do understand that applying to Oxford can be a stressful experience, and we do everything we can to make it straightforward, simple, unthreatening and even enjoyable. The details of the application process can vary slightly from year to year, and candidates will need to check with the College and University for specific dates and procedures. Essentially, however, the process is as follows (see also the main Music website for detailed information and relevant links):
UCAS Application
This needs to be submitted on time and will be forwarded to the College. Tutors are looking for a strong academic record, positive references, and a clear and enthusiastic personal statement. It is often a good idea for candidates to devote some of the personal statement to their musical activities and enthusiasms.
Submitted Essays
Candidates are asked to submit two marked essays on any areas or aspects of music and, where possible, a marked sample of Harmony and/or Counterpoint work (we are aware that not all applicants may yet have engaged in formal study in these areas). A portfolio of original compositions may also be submitted (it will not usually be possible to return copies).
The Interview
Many applicants will be invited for interview in December. When candidates first arrive at the College they will be welcomed by undergraduates who will look after them during their time in Oxford. These are students who have volunteered to take care of candidates, show them where to go and ensure that their experience of Oxford is as enjoyable as possible. The first meeting with the Music tutors will be in a group with other applicants. This meeting is simply to allow candidates to meet the tutors before interview, giving them the chance to ask any questions so as to help them be as relaxed as possible for interview.
We usually give each candidate a minimum of two interviews at St Catherine’s: one of about 25 minutes, concentrating on general issues relating to musical interests and course aptitude and a shorter interview designed to assess candidates’ level of ability in musical techniques (eg. harmony and counterpoint and keyboard ability); the latter is primarily diagnostic, and geared to assessing what teaching might be required in the first year. The longer interview will usually involve discussion of music recently studied by the candidate (usually at A level or equivalent). We may also ask about other interests outside musical study. Candidates will often be given choices as to what they wish to discuss—we’re trying to find out how our applicants think, not to catch them out on what they don’t know. Candidates will also usually be given an interview at another College.
During the interview period each candidate will be given an audition in the Music Faculty on their main instrument. The audition will last approximately 7 minutes.
Once we have interviewed all our applicants, and interviewed candidates from other colleges, we then choose the top applicants and offer them a place, conditional on achieving the required grades. By no means all of the assessment is based on performance at interview—tutors take care to weigh up all the different kinds of evidence before them. If we believe any candidates deserve an Oxford place, but we do not think we will have room for them, then we will recommend them to other colleges in the Faculty-wide meetings that we attend during the interview period.
If you think you might enjoy being at St Catherine’s, we would like to hear from you. If you have any questions about our course, admissions procedures or the college in general, please do feel free to ask by email.
Repetiteur Scholarship
St Catherine's College and New Chamber Opera (www.newchamberopera.co.uk) have established a Répétiteur Scholarship for pianists wishing to further their skills as a répétiteur, accompanist or conductor. Holders of the Scholarship will be appropriately qualified undergraduate members of St Catherine's College, reading Music or another approved subject. It is intended that the successful applicant will divide his or her scholarship time between St Catherine's College and New Chamber Opera, assisting in rehearsals, performances and with the training of singers for New Chamber Opera, and helping to organise and run practical musical activities in St Catherine's.
Terms of the scholarship:
i) Funded jointly by St Catherine’s College and New Chamber Opera, the scholarship is worth £400 per annum.
ii) The College may appoint up to one new Scholar per year, subject to the application procedure detailed below.
iii) Scholarships are held for the duration of the undergraduate’s academic course; students spending a year abroad as part of their course will not act as Répétiteur during this time.
iv) When there is more than one Scholar, their commitments will be divided as mutually agreed.
v) The Scholarship will entail an average time commitment of 10 hours a week, plus personal practice. It is expected that this will be split equally between St Catherine’s and NCO, except during the run-up to performances when the distribution of workload will be adjusted accordingly. The division of work between appointed Scholars is decided by mutual agreement, subject to termly academic and examination commitments.
vi) Scholars will rent accommodation in the usual way, but will be entitled to one of the College’s larger rooms with an electronic piano and internal phone line. In the 2nd and 3rd year, they will have priority selection in JCR room ballot.
vii) The College makes an annual allowance of £200 for instrumental lessons for Répétiteur Scholars. Special additional funds from New Chamber Opera of not more than £200 per annum will enable the Scholar to take extra personal instrumental lessons; these can be negotiated as required but are primarily intended for lessons on keyboards other than piano. [Note: Scholars who are not reading Music may apply to the College for additional funding as specific needs arise.]
viii) In the College, the Scholar will, by mutual agreement, be expected to assist (as director and/or accompanist) with musical performances, and other events or acts of worship, some of which might occasionally fall outside normal term periods. These are most likely to include:
a. Directing/accompanying the Chamber Choir and organising the termly concerts.
b. Accompanying musical performances and auditions in College – esp. the annual Leask Scholar Auditions.
c. Coordinating or assisting the musical elements of the College’s annual artistic presentation – the Bullock Event.
d. Maintaining an active role on the College Music Society Committee and championing the musical activities of St Catherine’s, both in and out of College.
The Scholar, along with other music students, is also responsible for the weekly bookings of the College Music House and the appropriate use of the space.
ix) At New Chamber Opera, the Scholar will be appointed as one of the resident répétiteurs. This position will entail the accompanying/training of singers for the company’s performances, some of which may fall outside normal term periods. Duties include:
a. accompanying musical and stage rehearsals.
b. being available to accompany the company’s lunchtime vocal recital series.
c. assisting in other aspects of the company, particularly with production planning.
Répétiteurs will usually be required to be available for the Company’s Summer Opera in early July.
x) Both St Catherine’s College and New Chamber Opera reserve the right to terminate an individual’s scholarship, should the terms and conditions outlined above not be met to an adequate standard.
Entrance procedure
Applications are invited from suitable candidates at St Catherine’s, who will normally, but not necessarily, be intending to read Music. Candidates should present a strong academic profile and be able to satisfy the Oxford entry requirement; they should also be pianists with a high standard of solo performance and proven sight-reading and accompanying ability. The evaluation of applicants will normally take place during or after the December admissions exercise, when applicants may be called for a separate audition. Those interested in the Scholarship should make this known when applying for a place at St Catherine’s by entering “Répétiteur Award” in the “further details” section of their UCAS application; it may also be possible to make applications after an offer from St Catherine’s has been made.
Enquiries in the first instance to:
The Deputy Academic Registrar (Admissions) - admissions@stcatz.ox.ac.uk (01865 271703)
For further information, please contact:
Prof. Peter Franklin, Tutor in Music, St Catherine’s College, Oxford, OX1 3UJ - peter.franklin@stcatz.ox.ac.uk
or:
Dr Michael Burden - michael.burden@new.ox.ac.uk