Singing direction - 2ème Cycle

Age limit: all candidates must be under 29 on October 1^st 2026

(born after October 1^st 1995)

Prescreening

This Master’s degree is open to candidates who meet one of the following criteria:

- holders of a Bachelor in performance (DNSPM in French) in France, or an equivalent Bachelor’s degree from another country.

- holders of a diploma from the Paris or Lyon CNSMDs

- students currently following a Master’s degree in piano accompaniment or vocal accompaniment at the Paris or Lyon CNSMDs.

Candidates are shortlisted by an internal jury upon 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 enrolment 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.

Eligibility round

Description

1. Performance from memory on the piano of one or more works taken from the imposed repertoire that will be released 4 weeks before the date of the test (Monday December 15 2025) and published on the Conservatoire’s website (www.conservatoiredeparis.fr)
2. sight-reading with singer(s) of an excerpt from an opera (2 minutes' preparation in front of the jury).

(Holders of BAcjhelor or Master’s degree in accompaniment or piano from the CNSMD de Paris or Lyon may be exempted from eligibility at their own request, as may students enrolled on a Master’s degree in piano, piano accompaniment or vocal accompaniment at the CNSMD de Paris. To make this request, please fill in the form below.)

Dates

January 26th to 28th 2026 

Invitation

An invitation will be sent to candidates.

Attendance

The tests will take place onsite at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris.

Admission

Description

1. Performance of one of the opera overtures chosen from the following list (candidates must indicate their choice one week before the test at the lastest (January 19th 2026) using the appropriate form available below:

• Mozart :
• La Clemenza di Tito
• Cosi fan tutte
• Le Nozze di Figaro

•  
• Rossini :
• La Cenerentola
• Otello
• Il Turco in Italia
• William Tell
• Il Barbiere di Siviglia

•  
• Beethoven :
• Fidelio

•  
• Weber :
• Der Freischütz

•  
• Humperdinck :
• Hänsel und Gretel

•  
• Verdi :
• Luisa Miller

1. Sight-reading of an excerpt from a vocal work with singer(s), followed by a 4-5 minute setting with the singer(s) (5 min in a practice room with a piano);
2. sight-reading of a work for piano solo or an orchestral reduction (2 min preparation in front of the jury) ;
3. choral reduction (5 min preparation with piano);
4. interview in French on the candidate's motivations.

Dates

January 26th to 28th 2026

Invitation

An invitation will be sent to candidates.

Present

The tests will take place onsite 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.