Entrance examinations for ensembles

You can choose to take the audition at one level of the Academy.

Form, content, and assessment of the examination

The entrance examination consists of a principal study audition, which is taken in two rounds. If you apply for the specialisation Soloist Artistic Research or Soloist with teaching qualifications (advanced level), there will also be a third round in your chosen specialisation.

You can read about the different specialisations and the content of the entrance exams here.

1st round – Video

The 1st round consists of a video recording, where you play your chosen repertoire for the 1st round. The video recording must be uploaded in the application form.
You find the repertoire requirements below.

If you pass the 1st round, you will continue to the 2nd round.
We will send you the result from the 1st round in an email in the middle of May.

The 1st round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner with pass/fail.

Requirements for the video recording

  • The recording of the entire 1st round must be one-take. You are allowed to take a sip of water or a short break between the pieces – like you would do, if it had been a live entrance exam.
  • The video recording must be unedited.
  • The video recording must be a maximum of six months old.
  • We encourage you to record works with an accompanist, if the piece normally is performed with accompaniment.

Recommendations for the video recording

2nd round – At RDAM

The 2nd round will be held at RDAM between mid-May and end-June. If you pass the 1st round, you will be summoned for the 2nd round.

From mid-March, you can find a preliminary schedule of the dates for the 2nd round on How to apply - EU/EEA applicants and How to apply - non-EU/EEA applicants.

In the 2nd round, you will be asked to perform a programme of 30 minutes' duration. Please find the repertoire requirements below.

The 2nd round ends with a five-minute conversation about the applicant's motivation for applying, career considerations, etc.. The conversation does not affect the grade but is used for mutual matching of expectations about the education.

The 2nd round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner according to the 7-point grading scale.

Repertoire for the first round

String Quartet: A quartet by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven. The whole work is played.

Piano Quartet: A quartet by Mozart. The whole work is played.

Piano Trio: A trio of Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven. The whole work is played.

Wind Quintet: A quintet by Danzi. The whole work is played.

Other ensembles with strings
Other ensembles with strings adapt their recording repertoire according to the above requirements and have their repertoire proposals approved by the subject group leader, no later than one month after RDAM has received the repertoire list.

Other ensembles with woodwinds
Other ensembles with woodwinds adapt their recording repertoire according to the above requirements and have their repertoire proposals approved by the subject group leader, no later than one month after RDAM has received the repertoire list.

Ensembles with instruments other than strings and woodwinds
Applications from ensembles with a crew other than those described above will be processed individually, and the ensemble will be informed whether the repertoire list has been approved, no later than one month after DKDM has received the list.

Repertoire for the second round

String Quartet: A large romantic quartet from the standard repertoire and a significant work from the 20th century

Piano Quartet: A large romantic quartet from the standard repertoire, and a work from the 20th century

Piano Trio: A large romantic trio from the standard repertoire, and a significant work from the 20th century

The Wind Quintet: Carl Nielsen The Wind Quintet, and a significant work from the 20th century

The internal censors choose 45 minutes of music, which will be sent to your e-mail address the week before the first round of the entrance exam.