School of Music

A high percentage of our graduates (70%) go on to graduate-level employment or study within 6 months of completing their studies, and more often than not they work in music or arts-related industries. Typical careers include: teaching (classroom or instrumental), freelance work as a performer or composer, arts administration and marketing roles (for companies such as Opera North, the Royal Opera House, West Yorkshire Playhouse), radio production and management, and music promotions. There are also a number of other career destinations that have been pursued by our graduates, including those in the fields of business, accounting, management, and Human Resources.

As a music graduate you possess a diverse range of skills that relate specifically to music, such as high levels of technical skill, a historical and critical understanding of music, and an ability to apply ideas and methods from a range of related disciplines, including philosophy, psychology and computer science. The study and performance of music develops a broad range of other desirable transferable skills, such as independent thinking, time management, team-working, high levels of self-motivation and discipline and a range of analytical and communication skills that are highly valued in the professional world you will enter after university.

Throughout your time at university you are encouraged to think about your employability through the Leeds for Life scheme, which provides a structure through which you can build and develop your CV and experiences, and through an active programme of careers events organised by the school and university careers service. Support is available for all aspects of your career development, including CV development, application-checking, interview practice and counselling for career options. The School of Music hosts bi-weekly careers drop-ins where you can meet one-to-one with a specialist careers advisor who can help you with any aspect of your career development.

include the winners of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Young Composers' Competition and the BBC Young Folk Awards.

have reached the finals of the national Musicians' Benevolent Fund Songwriting Awards for two consecutive years.

... have broken into the Music Week Commercial Pop Top 30 charts and been voted number 1 in the Club Chart Breakers listings.

Mario de Sa (BA Music, 2006) works in the Concerts Department of the London Symphony Orchestra, primarily in the planning, organisation and implementation of the orchestra's numerous tours around the world.

Juliet Read (BA Popular and World Musics, 2006) undertook work placements at Universal Music and Warner Music leading to a Marketing Assistant role at 14th Floor Records (a Warner Music subsidiary). Working on acts including Biffy Clyro, The Wombats, David Gray, Nerina Pallot and Damien Rice, she was offered a position as the in-house TV Promotions assistant for the external company who did the promotions for 14th Floor Records.

Natalie Ellis (BA Music, 2007)undertook a 6-week internship with Manchester Camerata after completing her studies at Leeds. After this she was successful in getting the position of Projects Assistant in the Education department of the Royal Opera House, later becoming the Education Officer. She helps to organise and run education projects in ballet, opera and orchestra.

Katie Pearce (BA Music, 2001) is Music Officer for the Leeds International Concert Series based at Leeds Town Hall.

Ilan Eshkeri (BA Music and English, 1999) is working as a composer and orchestrator in the film industry and has collaborated with Hans Zimmer on Black Hawk Down, Ed Shearmur on Reign of Fire and Michael Kamen on Open Range. More recently he composed the scores to Stardust, Hannibal Rising, The Young Victoria, and Ninja Assassin.

Simon Bell (BMus, 1998) is Assistant Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral. He previously worked at Southwell Minster, St. Albans Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, where he performed at the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen Mother. As a solo recitalist, he has played throughout the country, and has broadcast for BBC radio and ITV as an accompanist.

Janna Mills (BA Music, 2003) has gained a soprano position in the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, one of Ireland's leading professional choirs.

Rebel Sketchy aka Dave Gammie (BA Popular and World Musics, 2005), is now signed to the Playback Project Label and has released three CD recordings of original music - one of which achieved the number one slot in the Dance charts.

Sam Richardson (BA, 2004) has trained successfully as an airline pilot.