2nd cycle singing - 2ème Cycle

Information

  • Name

    2nd cycle singing

  • Cycle

    2nd Cycle

  • Course's number of years

    2 years

  • Maximum duration

    2 years, two hours a week with the teacher and one with the assistant.

  • ECTS

    120

  • Delivered diploma

    Diplôme de 2e cycle supérieur de Chant conferring the grade of Master

  • Course objectives and content

    Development of artistic personality ;
    Ability to design and perform a recital independently;
    Ability to develop and express reflections on one's artistic practice;
    Development of the ability to enter professional life;
    Research and approach to a wider and more personalised repertoire;
    Development of a considered and autonomous artistic practice.

  • French language certificate

    Candidates admitted to the competitive entrance examination for the 2nd cycle who are not nationals of French-speaking countries must present, before 30 June preceding their first enrolment at the Conservatoire, a certificate issued by a body approved by the French government attesting to a level of French at least equal to B1 on the Council of Europe's scale of common reference levels, before 10 December following their first enrolment at the Conservatoire, a certificate issued by a body recognised by the French government attesting to a level of French at least equal to B2 on the Council of Europe's scale of common reference levels.

Disciplines

  • Practical aspects of the business 3 (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 2 ECTS)

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  • Practical aspects of the business 4 (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 1 ECTS)

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  • Introduction to pedagogy (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 4 ECTS)

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  • Personal study work (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 9 ECTS)

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  • Research methodology (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 3 ECTS)

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  • Work experience - 2nd cycle (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 6 ECTS)

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  • Modern language (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 2 ECTS)

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  • Chant (Discipline principale - 57 ECTS)

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  • Vocal ensembles B (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 8 ECTS)

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  • Study of roles (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 10 ECTS)

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  • Répertoire baroque (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 4 ECTS)

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  • Working on stage (Discipline complémentaire imposée - 14 ECTS)

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Entrance exam

Vocal arts - Men (Master)

Opening date for registration :  10 October 2025

Closing date for registration :  14 November 2025

Description :

Age limit: All male candidates must be under 30 on October 1st 2026

(born after October 1st 1996)

Pre-selection

 

This Master is open to candidates with a Bachelor’s in performance (DNSPM in French) in the same discipline in France, or an equivalent Bachelor’s degree from another country.

 

Candidates are shortlisted by an internal jury on the basis of an examination of their application. The application must include :

 

  • a copy of the required diploma ;
  • a resume.

 

Candidates who do not graduate until the end of the school year may take the competitive entrance examination by attaching to their application a certificate of enrollment specifying their situation. If they are successful in the competitive entrance examination, they will not be granted final admission until they have presented the required diploma before September 30th of their first school year. Candidates who fail to do so will lose the benefit of their admission.

.

Screening round (on video)

 

Candidates must provide the jury with a 30 to 40-minute programme. This programme will be used at every round of the competitive examination. It must include :

  • opera arias, at least one oratorio aria and at least one art song or lied;
  • at least one work written before 1800 and at least one work written after 1945;
  • works in French, German and Italian.

Please note: this programme cannot be modified after November 30th 2025 at 11:59pm.

 

Candidates are required to record videos of 3 pieces from their programme on 3 separate files, the total length of which must not exceed 20 minutes. Candidates will upload the files to their application space on the dates indicated on the registration platform for the entrance competition. This platform is accessible from the Conservatoire’s website.

 

The 3 pieces must comply with the following conditions:

  • one opera aria
  • one oratorio aria
  • one art song or one lied

The 3 pieces must be in different languages, with at least one piece in French.

 

Please note: videos must be uploaded to your application space by November 30th 2025 11:59 pm at the latest.

Eligibility round

 

Candidates who have passed the screening stage will be selected for eligibility.

 

Description

 

Evaluation of musical training and sight-reading (singers), behind closed doors, at a level equivalent to the CNSMDP’s Certificate of Musical Training and Sight-reading (singers). This test includes (after a preparation in a practice room) :

 

  • spoken reading of complex rhythms including equivalences
  • reading of an excerpt from a lyric work in French or Italian
  • reading of a short atonal vocalise without naming the notes
  • reading a recitative and a classical aria in French or Italian
  • analyzing the tonalities, modulations and cadences of the recitative or classical aria
  • reading a Lied (German Romantic)
  • recognition of 4-tone chords with inversion and construction on a given sound of 4-tone chords in the fundamental state.

Holders of the Certificat de Formation musicale et lecture à vue (singers) awarded by the Paris and Lyon CNSMDs are exempt from this test.

 

Dates

 

Tuesday February 24th 2026

 

Invitation

 

Invitations will be sent to candidates.

 

Attendance

 

The musical training test will take place on site at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris.

 

Admission

 

Candidates who have passed the eligibility round will be selected for the admission round.

 

Description

 

The jury will select 30 minutes of music from the programme provided by the candidate. The candidate will perform the programme.

At the end of the admission round, the jury will interview each candidate in French. The interview will focus on the candidates' motivations.

 

Piano accompaniment

 

The CNSMDP provides candidates with an accompanist.

 

Programme sheet

 

Candidates must write down their programme on the provided form.

 

Dates

 

February 24th to 27th 2026

 

Invitation

 

An invitation will be sent to candidates.

 

Attendance

 

The admission round will take place on site at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris.

 

Language certificate

 

Candidates selected for the Master’s degree who are nationals of non French-speaking countries  will submit :

  • by June 30th 2026 a certificate issued by a French organization certified by the French authorities and attesting of a B1 level in French language ;
  • by December 10th 2026 a certificate issued by a French organization certified by the French authorities attesting of a B2 level in French language according to the Council of Europe's scale of common reference levels.

 

Maximum age : 30

Vocal arts - women (Master)

Opening date for registration :  10 October 2025

Closing date for registration :  14 November 2025

Description :

 

Age limit: All female candidates must be under 28 on October 1st 2026

(born after October 1st 1998)

Pre-selection

 

This Master is open to candidates with a Bachelor’s in performance (DNSPM in French) in the same discipline in France, or an equivalent Bachelor’s degree from another country.

 

Candidates are shortlisted by an internal jury on the basis of an examination of their application. The application must include :

 

  • a copy of the required diploma ;
  • a resume.

 

Candidates who do not graduate until the end of the school year may take the competitive entrance examination by attaching to their application a certificate of enrollment specifying their situation. If they are successful in the competitive entrance examination, they will not be granted final admission until they have presented the required diploma before September 30th of their first school year. Candidates who fail to do so will lose the benefit of their admission.

.

Screening round (on video)

 

Candidates must provide the jury with a 30 to 40-minute programme. This programme will be used at every round of the competitive examination. It must include :

  • opera arias, at least one oratorio aria and at least one art song or lied;
  • at least one work written before 1800 and at least one work written after 1945;
  • works in French, German and Italian.

Please note: this programme cannot be modified after November 30th 2025 at 11:59pm.

 

Candidates are required to record videos of 3 pieces from their programme on 3 separate files, the total length of which must not exceed 20 minutes. Candidates will upload the files to their application space on the dates indicated on the registration platform for the entrance competition. This platform is accessible from the Conservatoire’s website.

 

The 3 pieces must comply with the following conditions:

  • one opera aria
  • one oratorio aria
  • one art song or one lied

The 3 pieces must be in different languages, with at least one piece in French.

 

Please note: videos must be uploaded to your application space by November 30th 2025 11:59 pm at the latest.

Eligibility round

 

Candidates who have passed the screening stage will be selected for eligibility.

 

Description

 

Evaluation of musical training and sight-reading (singers), behind closed doors, at a level equivalent to the CNSMDP’s Certificate of Musical Training and Sight-reading (singers). This test includes (after a preparation in a practice room) :

 

  • spoken reading of complex rhythms including equivalences
  • reading of an excerpt from a lyric work in French or Italian
  • reading of a short atonal vocalise without naming the notes
  • reading a recitative and a classical aria in French or Italian
  • analyzing the tonalities, modulations and cadences of the recitative or classical aria
  • reading a Lied (German Romantic)
  • recognition of 4-tone chords with inversion and construction on a given sound of 4-tone chords in the fundamental state.

Holders of the Certificat de Formation musicale et lecture à vue (singers) awarded by the Paris and Lyon CNSMDs are exempt from this test.

 

Dates

 

Tuesday February 24th 2026

 

Invitation

 

Invitations will be sent to candidates.

 

Attendance

 

The musical training test will take place on site at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris.

 

Admission

 

Candidates who have passed the eligibility round will be selected for the admission round.

 

Description

 

The jury will select 30 minutes of music from the programme provided by the candidate. The candidate will perform the programme.

At the end of the admission round, the jury will interview each candidate in French. The interview will focus on the candidates' motivations.

 

Piano accompaniment

 

The CNSMDP provides candidates with an accompanist.

 

Programme sheet

 

Candidates must write down their programme on the provided form.

 

Dates

 

February 24th to 27th 2026

 

Invitation

 

An invitation will be sent to candidates.

 

Attendance

 

The admission round will take place on site at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris.

 

Language certificate

 

Candidates selected for the Master’s degree who are nationals of non French-speaking countries  will submit :

  • by June 30th 2026 a certificate issued by a French organization certified by the French authorities and attesting of a B1 level in French language ;
  • by December 10th 2026 a certificate issued by a French organization certified by the French authorities attesting of a B2 level in French language according to the Council of Europe's scale of common reference levels.

 

Maximum age : 28