What does being an award holder involve, and how much time is required?
As an award holder you will be placed in an ensemble who you will work with for the rest of the year. Together with your ensemble, you will need to:
- Arrange to meet two or three times a week (4–6 hours per week) during termtime to work on repertoire and improve your ensemble playing. We suggest you set up a regular time slot to rehearse together.
- Attend six coaching sessions per year with guest professionals.
- Give regular performances. You will need to arrange your own concerts (at least one in the first term and two in the second term) and may also be invited to perform in the showcase concerts and special projects.
We hope that as an Award Holder you will also play an active role in music-making within your college and across the University.
Students from all subjects can take part in the IAS, but it is worth considering how many hours a week you are willing and able to devote to your playing, and how a commitment to your chamber group will fit around your academic studies. Life at Cambridge is very busy (but rewarding!), and you do need to be organised in order to balance academic and IAS commitments.
Who can apply?
The IAS is open to both new and current students at all colleges, and you can apply in any or all years during your time at Cambridge.
What standard do I need to be?
You should have achieved at least Distinction at Grade VIII of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), or other equivalent qualification, to apply for the scheme. Successful candidates are usually of Associated Board Diploma standard or equivalent.
What instruments are eligible?
Players of the following instruments are eligible to apply:
| Brass | Keyboard | Strings | Wind |
| French horn* Trombone Trumpet Tuba |
Piano | Cello Double bass** Guitar** Harp** Viola Violin |
Bassoon Clarinet Flute Oboe |
*French horn players will be considered for both wind and brass ensembles.
**Awards for these instruments are dependent on instrumental combinations in any given year. The managers reserve the right to offer associate membership. Associate members participate in one project and holders are entitled to half the benefits of a full award.
Applying on a historic instrument
The scheme also considers applications from period instrument players. If you are considering applying on a historical instrument, please contact info@cmp.cam.ac.uk at the earliest opportunity in advance of submitting your application.
How do I apply?
You need to complete an application form. Having received your application, we will invite you to audition.
Applications for 2024–25 open at 9am on 1 September and close at 9am on 22 September.
What if I want to apply for IAS and the orchestras?
If you want to apply to IAS only:
- fill in the IAS application form by 22 September
- you will be invited to a solo audition with professional auditioners (IAS Solo Round), and need to perform the set IAS solo repertoire
- if you are successful at your solo audition, you will be invited for a group audition (IAS Chamber Round), and need to perform the set IAS chamber repertoire
If you want to apply to orchestra only:
- fill in the orchestra application form by 5 October
- you will be invited to a solo audition with student auditioners (Orchestra Round 1), and need to perform a piece of your own choice
- if you are successful, you will be invited to a further solo audition with professional auditioners (Orchestra Round 2), where you need to perform:
- a piece of your own choice
- orchestral excerpts
If you want to apply to IAS and orchestra:
- fill in the IAS application form by 22 September and make sure you tick the ‘orchestra’ box
- you will be invited to a solo audition with professional auditioners (IAS Solo Round / Orchestra Round 2), and need to perform:
- the set IAS solo repertoire
- the orchestral excerpts
- if you are successful at your solo audition, you will be invited for a group audition (IAS Chamber Round), and need to perform the set IAS chamber repertoire
What happens at the audition?
All instruments except piano
You will be invited to a solo audition, which will take place at West Road Concert Hall in early October and will play the set pieces which can be found in the ‘Set Repertoire 2024-25’ section below.
Piano only
If there is a large number of piano applicants, there may be an additional video round for pianists for which you will need to upload a video as part of your application.
All instruments
If successful in the first-round auditions, you will be invited back to the second-round audition at West Road Concert Hall in early October. You will be placed in chamber groups with other candidates, playing the set pieces of chamber repertoire (also found in the ‘Set Repertoire 2024-25’ section below). The auditioners will coach your ensemble or ask you to rehearse together.
The audition dates will be announced here by 1 June 2024.
Set repertoire 2024–25
Set repertoire changes every year. The 2024–25 repertoire is as follows.
| Round | 2024-25 | Links to sheet music in public domain (UK) | |
| Violin | 1 | JS Bach Violin partita No.1 in B minor, BWV 1002 – Sarabande and it’s Double
Ysaÿe Sonata for solo violin in A minor, Op.27 No.2 ‘Jacques Thibaud’ – Obsession; Prelude |
Bach Barenreiter edition available at imslp
|
| 2 | Beethoven String quartet in F major, Op.18 no. 1
First movement
Beethoven Piano trio No.5 in D major, Op.70 No.1 ‘Ghost’ – first movement |
||
| Viola | 1 | JS Bach Cello suite No.4 in E flat major (arr. for viola), BWV 1010 – Courante and Sarabande
Hoffmeister 12 Etudes for Viola – no. 5 |
Main page for BWV 1010 on imslp. Suggested viola edition available at imslp: Yokoyama (“For Viola (Yokoyama) Complete Score (without slurs)”). For slurs, please refer to the Barenreiter edition for cello (“Complete Score (Text I)” available at imslp. Hoffmeister unknown edition (early 19th century) available at imslp. |
| 2 | Beethoven String quartet in F major, Op.18 no. 1
First movement |
||
| Cello | 1 | Henze Serenade for solo cello – movements I, III, V, VII
JS Bach Cello suite No.3 in C major, BWV 1009 – Courante |
Henze Not in public domain. Published by Schott, c.£12 to purchase from Boosey.
Bach Barenreiter edition (“Complete Score Text I”) available at imslp |
| 2 | Beethoven String quartet in F major, Op.18 no. 1 – first movement
Beethoven Piano trio No.5 in D major, Op.70 No.1 ‘Ghost’ – first movement |
||
| Double Bass | 1 | Ellis Sonata for Unaccompanied Double Bass, Op.42 | Not in public domain. Published by Yorke, c.£6 to purchase from Opus 13. |
| Harp | 1 | Pierné Impromptu-caprice Op.9 | Leduc edition available at imslp |
| Guitar | 1 | Giuliani Sonata eroica, Op.150 | Ricordi edition available at imslp. (This is not the clearest scan but is the best freely available edition. Do use another edition if you prefer.) |
| Piano | 1 | Brahms Violin sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op.108 – first movement
(no violinist for video , piano part only) |
Brahms Breitkopf available at imslp |
| 1b | Brahms Violin sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op.108 – first movement | ||
| 2 | Beethoven Piano trio No.5 in D major, Op.70 No.1 ‘Ghost’ – first movement | ||
| Flute | 1 | Telemann 12 Fantasias for Flute without Bass, TWV 40:2-13 – No.6 in D minor
Hindemith 8 Pieces for Solo Flute – movements II, VI, VII, VIII |
Telemann Barenreiter edition available at imslp
Hindemith not in public domain. Published by Schott, c.£13.50 to purchase from Just Flutes. Set for exams, so widely available. |
| 2 | Patterson Westerly Winds, Op.84 – I ‘Scrumpy Giles’, III ‘Lazy Lawrence’ | ||
| Oboe | 1 | Telemann 12 Fantasias for Flute without Bass, TWV 40:2-13 – No.2 in A minor
Britten Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, Op.49 – EITHER: No.2 ‘Phaeton’ OR: No.4 ‘Bacchus’ Kirsch Ganymed, Op.7 – III [to be sent to candidates] |
Telemann Barenreiter edition available at imslp
Britten Not in public domain. Published by Boosey & Hawkes, c.£15 to purchase from ABRSM. Set for exams so widely available.
|
| 2 | Patterson Westerly Winds, Op.84 – I ‘Scrumpy Giles’, III ‘Lazy Lawrence’ | ||
| Clarinet | 1 | Baermann Clarinet quintet No.3, Op.23 – Adagio
Jacob Five Pieces for solo clarinet – ‘Waltz’, ‘Homage to JSB’, ‘Scherzo and Trio’ |
Baermann Breitkopf available at imslp
Not in public domain. Published by Oxford University Press, c.£11 to purchase from Boosey. Set for exams so widely available. |
| 2 | Patterson Westerly Winds, Op.84 – I ‘Scrumpy Giles’, III ‘Lazy Lawrence’ | ||
| Bassoon | 1 | Milde 50 Concert Studies, Op.26 No.5
Nielsen Wind quintet, Op.43 – III –Variation VII only Jacob Partita for solo bassoon – I, II, III |
Milde Cundy-Bettoney edition available at imslp Nielsen Hansen edition available at imslp Jacob not in public domain. Published by Oxford University Press, c.£9 to purchase from Boosey. Set for exams so widely available. |
| 2 | Patterson Westerly Winds, Op.84 – I ‘Scrumpy Giles’, III ‘Lazy Lawrence’ | ||
| Horn | 1 | Arnold Fantasy for Horn, Op.88 | Arnold not in public domain. Published by Faber, c.£7.50 to purchase from Faber. Set for exams, so widely available. |
| 2 | Patterson Westerly Winds, Op.84 – I ‘Scrumpy Giles’, III ‘Lazy Lawrence’
Victor Ewald Brass Quintet No.1, Op.5
Horn players will be asked to express a preference for playing in either a wind or brass group. |
||
| Trumpet | 1 | Arnold Fantasy for Trumpet, Op.100 | Not in public domain. Published by Faber, c.£4 to purchase as digital download from Boosey. |
| 2 | Victor Ewald Brass Quintet No.1, Op.5 | ||
| Trombone | 1 | Arnold Fantasy for Trombone, Op.101 | Not in public domain. Published by Faber, c.£4 to purchase as digital download from Boosey. |
| 2 | Victor Ewald Brass Quintet No.1, Op.5 | ||
| Tuba | 1 | Arnold Fantasy for Tuba, Op.102 | Not in public domain. Published by Faber, c.£4 to purchase as digital download from Boosey. |
| 2 | Victor Ewald Brass Quintet No.1, Op.5 |
We believe financial constraints should not be a barrier to participation. If the cost of sheet music for the auditions is prohibitive, please contact info@cmp.cam.ac.uk FAO Chloe Davidson to confidentially discuss finances.
If you are having difficulty accessing repertoire, please contact info@cmp.cam.ac.uk.
ROUND 1
You may play from any edition of the set repertoire. Links and suggestions of edition are provided below where publicly available* to facilitate your preparation.
*Links below are for music in the public domain in the UK. If you are based in another country, please check the copyright rules for accessing music in your country. In particular, the US rules differ from many other countries.
ROUND 2
Sheet music will be provided at the audition so that everyone is playing from the same edition. You can find parts to prepare in the table above.
Award Managers
The Instrumental Awards Scheme is an intercollegiate scheme administered by the Centre for Music Performance. The scheme is directed by a committee drawn from across the colleges and University.
| Role | Name | University/College Position(s) |
| Director | Dr David Trippett | Professor of Music and Director of Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Music Director of Studies in Music, Christ’s College |
| Artistic Director | Professor Margaret Faultless | Director of Performance, Faculty of Music Director of Performance, Centre for Music Performance Musician in Residence, St John’s College |
| Treasurer | Dr Paul Wingfield | Director of Studies in Music, Trinity College |
| Manager | Dr Sam Barrett | Professor of Early Medieval Music, Faculty of Music Director of Studies in Music, Pembroke College |
| Manager | Dr Martin Ennis | Associate Professor in Music, Faculty of Music Director of Studies in Music and Director of Music, Girton College |
| Manager | Christopher Lawrence | Bursar, Newnham College |
| CMP Representative | Chloe Davidson | Manager, Centre for Music Performance |
