“I was able to experience the best of both worlds: to enjoy Princeton’s incredible liberal arts education, and to try out a conservatory setting in one glorious, music-focused semester. I spent an unforgettable few months studying piano at the Royal College of Music, and my time there only confirmed that I absolutely want to devote my life to music.”
– Dasha Koltunyuk ’15
In addition to incorporating musical study and performance into your studies on campus, you can immerse in music abroad through several programs at prestigious musical institutions overseas. Study for a semester at the renowned Royal College of Music in London or the Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Or spend a summer learning directly from actors and musicians from the Shanghai Peking Opera Company, or from leading pianists in Italy at the Imola Academy.
Semester Abroad & Double-Degree Program
A semester of music immersion in a conservatory setting for highly talented performance students, with the possibility of an accelerated Masters of Music degree from the Royal College of Music. This program is open to rising juniors of any major.
The Royal College of Music in London gives students the opportunity for professional performance training, plus the experience of living in one of the world’s most vibrant music capitals. Musically gifted students who are considering the professional music world will find this program particularly useful.
When planning for this intensive program, students should keep in mind that any departmental requirements for Fall term of the junior year must be attended to either before or after the semester abroad. Permission is required from the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the student’s concentration (with the exception of Music Major).
Interested students will be required to give a live audition for members of Music Department performance faculty. Auditions will be held on February 27, 2025. Please sign up for an audition below.
| Classical Piano & Orchestral Instruments | One (1) movement from a standard sonata or concerto, its equivalent of another period, showing an element of contrast. Applicants may not get to play their selection in its entirety. Music does not need to be memorized. Orchestral applicants will need to provide their own accompanist, if they need one. |
| Classical Voice | Two (2) selections from classical song or operatic aria repertoire. The music offered must be in at least two (2) different languages, one of which is either Italian, French, or German. Music MUST be memorized. Applicants will need to provide their own accompanist. |
Students should also follow the Study Abroad protocol through the Office of International Programs:
- Make an appointment to see a study abroad advisor to discuss your interest in this program. Find your dedicated advisor here.
- Once you confirm that the nomination has been completed after a successful audition, you will receive application instructions directly from your program or your study abroad advisor.
- Complete the study abroad application items in the Global Programs System by the listed deadline.
Read about the experiences of past students participating in this program:
Trinity Laban is the UK’s first conservatoire of music and dance. Formed in 2005, Trinity Laban offers a unique and intense experience incorporating innovative education and training in performing arts. This program fosters a collaborative environment and a thriving community of musicians with ample opportunity to perform.
Overview
Students should contact the Anthony H. P. Lee ’79 Director of Jazz in sophomore year for information on interviewing or auditioning.
Students should also follow the Study Abroad protocol through the Office of International Programs:
- Make an appointment to see a study abroad advisor to discuss your interest in this program. Find your dedicated advisor here.
- Once you confirm that the nomination has been completed after a successful audition, you will receive application instructions directly from your program or your study abroad advisor.
- Complete the study abroad application items in the Global Programs System by the listed deadline.
When planning for this intensive program, students should keep in mind that any departmental requirements for Fall term of the junior year must be attended to either before or after the semester abroad. Permission is required from the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the student’s concentration (with the exception of Music Major).
The Princeton University Peking Opera Shanghai Immersion Program (POSIP) dates are to be determined.
Overview
The program is 2 weeks long with at least 44 hours of class contact hours.
Actors from the Shanghai Peking Opera Company (SPOC) and the Shanghai Hongyimei Peking Opera Company (SHPOC) will provide instruction in how to perform famous excerpts from selected operas. Past instructors included famous actors Yihong Shi, Murong Fang, and Dun Wang.
The language of instruction will be Mandarin Chinese. Generally, applicants should have had at least two years of college-level instruction in Mandarin or have gained equivalent skills in the spoken language.
Role-specific classes will meet for 3 hours per weekday for two weeks. In addition, there will be preparatory classes and multiple workshops on voice, language and history, Peking opera appreciation, and make-up.
Brought together by the Princeton, NJ-based Legacy Arts International, launch a cultural exchange that unites one of the hubs of modern composition and research with one of Italy’s most innovative pedagogical institutions.
The cultural exchange, conceived and facilitated by Legacy Arts International’s founder and leader, Cristina Altamura, will immerse piano students from Princeton University in the rich and intense environment of the Imola Academy, while introducing pianists at the Imola Academy to the highest levels of composition and musicology at Princeton University.
Sponsored by the Department of Music and the German Department, this intensive one-month summer course, GER/MUS 233, provides an opportunity for students to study German and music in Leipzig, a city with a special and rich musical history. The course will run from June 2 to June 27, 2025 and will draw upon the extraordinary musical offerings of the International Bach Festival along with the recognized expertise of the InterDaF German Language Institute. Students will be fully immersed in the cultural, linguistic, and political heritage of the city.
Language study in the mornings will be supplemented during the first two weeks by classes in music and culture in the afternoons with Prof. Wendy Heller; during the second two weeks students will study vocal and instrumental chamber music with Dr. Ruth Ochs, in preparation for a final performance. The culminating recital will be held at the beautiful Alte Börse, or Old Stock Exchange, Leipzig’s oldest baroque building and located in the heart of the old city. Participants will have the opportunity to take full advantage of all that Leipzig has to offer: we will attend concerts at the Bach Festival; visit museums, archives, and churches; and hear lectures from some of the many scholars in residence in Leipzig during the Bach Festival. Participants will also have the opportunity to travel to Halle to hear concerts associated with the Handel Festival (June 6-15, 2025) in nearby Halle.
When:
This new collaborative program runs from June 2 to June 27, 2025, inclusive of arrival and departure dates.
How to apply and explore funding options:
Enrollment through the Global Program System (GPS) begins on November 15, 2024 and ends on January 19, 2025. The billable charges for the program in the summer of 2025 are $5,120.
Funding assistance for tuition is available through the Dean’s Fund to students who receive financial aid. To apply for this funding, you must submit an application in Student Activity Funding Engine (SAFE) before January 19, 2025.
More information:
Please reach out to Wendy Heller () or Ruth Ochs () with any questions.
