Validated by University of East Anglia

One year (full-time)

The Musical Direction MA is a one-year, intensive course for skilled musicians with ambitions to work in music leadership roles within theatre and beyond.

Mountview has developed an internationally renowned reputation for its commitment to musical theatre. Our state-of-the-art facilities in South London and the network of industry professionals who contribute to the teaching provide the ideal springboard for a career in musical direction.

The Musical Direction course has a strong reputation in the industry for rigour and quality, and previous students on the course can be found working on a diverse range of musical theatre productions across the West End and UK.

The course is suited to experienced pianists, accompanists and conductors who have worked with singers, actors and instrumentalists, or would like to develop their skills in this area.

A maximum of six places are available each year. Due to the limited number of places available and the high volume of applications, please apply early to avoid disappointment. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the course leader for an informal conversation pre-interview about applying if they have questions, or would like to understand better if they feel it would be suitable pathway for them to undertake.

Graduate Destinations

MA Musical Directing Alumni have gone on to secure work for a variety of West End, UK and touring musicals, including SIX, Aspects of Love, The Wizard of Oz, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Strictly Ballroom, An Officer and a Gentleman, I Should Be So Lucky and 42 Balloons.

Read an interview with MA Musical Direction graduate Caitlin Morgan here.

Course Leader and Guest Practitioners

The course is led by Head of Musical Direction Richard Bates alongside a host of guest tutors.

Regular contributors include:

• Gemma Hawkins – Moulin Rouge
• Steve Moss – Les Miserables, Mary Poppins
• Lindsey Miller – Julius Caesar
• Dr Stuart Morley – We Will Rock You, Only Fools & Horses
• Alan Williams – Elf – The Musical

Course Content and Delivery

The MA is delivered over one year (42 weeks over 3 terms) on 5 days a week.*

Course components are individually timetabled for each student.

Across the year you will attend seminars with leading practitioners and industry specialists, receive individual tutorials, assist professional musical directors on in-house and public productions, and lead musically on selected performances.

Assessment is ongoing and based on work throughout the course. You will prepare for an MA project through a series of seminars and tutorials.

(*Exact dates will depend on practical show assignments.)

Showcase

Students work on public and in-house productions and at the end of the year a showreel is created of their work.