Leeds Conservatoire is a specialist conservatoire university offering higher education across music and the performing arts. It opened in 1965 as Leeds Music Centre and began with a light music course focusing on jazz. The centre developed into Leeds College of Music in 1993, and in 2004 became the first UK conservatoire to offer popular music and music production. In 2020 it changed its name to its current name.
Through a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, as well as short courses, Leeds Conservatoire aims to develop career-ready musicians, performers, producers, and entrepreneurs.
Undergraduate courses of a three-year duration combine hands-on practical learning with a theoretical background to prepare students for a career in music and the performing arts. Undergraduate courses include: acting, music business, film music, jazz music, FDA electronic music production, songwriting, and musical theatre. Postgraduate study at the conservatoire offers students the opportunity collaborate with leading composers, performers, producers and writers as a professional-level creative. Postgraduate courses have a duration of one year and include: music, dramaturgy, musical direction, musical theatre company, and musical theatre creatives.
The conservatoire has a range of facilities, including its 350-seat auditorium, drama and dance studios, a 180-seat theatre, recording studios, and a DJ suite, and is the only English conservatoire to hold the coveted All-Steinway School status.
Leeds as a city has a vibrant music and arts culture, with a strong independent creative scene and leading cultural institutions. With a year-round programme of performances and masterclasses, the conservatoire offers lots to do.
