The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music appoints accompanists to meet student needs for classes, assessment requirements and allied activities. The approved accompanists list provides students access to musicians with a high level of accompanying experience and capacity across a wide range of vocal and instrumental fields.

View the Approved Accompanist List

The following classes have scheduled accompanists:

• Instrumental/Voice Class
• Concert Class (Thursday)
• Performance Class: Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Performance Five and Six.

For the following classes, any accompanist from the Conservatorium's list of approved accompanists may be used:

• Performance Class: Master of Music (Performance Teaching)
• Performance Class: Master of Music (Music Performance)

View the Approved Accompanist List

The Head of Department or the Performance/Concert Class Coordinator will notify students of the scheduled accompanist each week.

Instrumental, concert and performance (honours and performance study) class: one 15-minute rehearsal with the scheduled accompanist for the class, plus the performance.

Master of Music (Performance Teaching) and Master of Music (Music Performance) classes: one one-hour rehearsal with any accompanist from the Conservatorium's list of approved accompanists and the performance in class.

View the Approved Accompanist List

Contact the accompanist directly to coordinate rehearsals.

You can perform in class with an accompanist of your choice but if you choose to use an accompanist that is not scheduled for the class, you are responsible for the cost of the rehearsal and performance.

Contemporary music students are able to apply for special permission to use an accompanist outside of the Conservatorium's list of approved accompanists by emailing the Faculty Academic Support Office.

View the Approved Accompanist List

Email your request to fineartsmusic-aso@unimelb.edu.au

Yes. You should rehearse with your accompanist for as long as possible to ensure the greatest preparation for your recital examination. However, if you use more than your allocated allowance, you'll need to pay the accompanist for the extra time directly.

Special permission can be sought from the Faculty Academic Support Office to have an allocation calculated on a proportional basis. For example, you might need to split your allocation equally between two associate artists.

Email your request to fineartsmusic-aso@unimelb.edu.au

No. The Conservatorium does not provide an accompanist allowance to facilitate technical examinations.

No. Students are entitled to an accompanist allowance based on the subject enrolled, and we cannot cover additional hours incurred due to special consideration and deferred examinations.

No. It is often encouraged that students work with other students during performance classes, but the Conservatorium does not pay for accompanists who are not on the approved accompanist list.

You'll need to pay any accompanist who not on the list directly. This can't be reimbursed.

View the Approved Accompanist List

Normally, completion of a postgraduate qualification in music performance together with at least three years accompanying at the professional level constitute basic eligibility to lodge an application. It is important to understand that sessional accompanying is not a teaching role.

Do not contact members of staff directly regarding your application. Instead, prepare the following application materials:

• a detailed CV outlining qualifications, experience and a sample repertoire list demonstrating the range and level of repertoire in an accompanying role as well as a list of appropriate performances over the last three years. Please include name, email and phone contact information.
• web-based, video recorded material demonstrating a professional level of concert accompaniment (at least 45 minutes in total) in at least three areas from the following: strings, woodwind, brass, voice or chamber music. Dates of the performances should be provided.
• two written references from professional (performing) musicians of standing that are not more than six months old and which comment directly on accompanying experience and capacity. The referees need to be available for further consultation if needed. If previous contact with academic staff from the Conservatorium is relevant, this may be indicated as well.

Send all materials by email to fineartsmusic-spf@unimelb.edu.au.

If you are not selected, you can reapply one year after your original application. Decisions made by the institution regarding accompanying selection are not open to review or further discussion.

Send your question by email to fineartsmusic-aso@unimelb.edu.au