Guidelines for artistic level performance examinations in classical music instruments and vocal art

General guidelines

The degree structure for studies in classical music instruments and vocal art includes a compulsory artistic level A and B performance examination. Level A performance examination may also be called master’s recital and level B performance examination bachelor’s recital. In the master’s degree programme in vocal art, the level A performance examination and the master’s recital are separate components. In this guide the term “level performance examination” will be used from now on.

Often, the level performance examination is part of your thesis project. Level A and B performance examinations must be completed within the target duration of studies (3 years for a bachelor’s degree and 2.5 years for a master’s degree). All level A and B performance examinations are public events.

You may also have the possibility to complete optional level performance examinations in your secondary instrument, for example. If the level performance examination is optional and included in your personal study plan (HOPS), you must complete the examination within the target duration of studies. If you have graduated within the target duration of studies, you have the possibility, with certain restrictions applying, to complete an optional level performance examination even after graduation based on a continued right to study: Completing artistic level performance examinations based on a continued right to study | Students’ Uniarts

Date and time of your level performance examination

Compulsory level A and B performance examinations (bachelor’s and master’s concerts)

Level A and B performance examinations are scheduled on behalf of students so that they can be completed within the target duration of bachelor’s/master’s studies. You will be informed of the level performance examination date by your department or the study services staff during the academic term preceding the date.

• Piano, vocal art and strings: you will be informed of the level performance examination date by the study services
• Other instruments: you will be informed of the level performance examination date by your department or the date is agreed with the teacher-in-charge and/or chair of the examination committee

Once you have received the message with your examination date, please confirm the date without delay. You can reschedule the level performance examination only by decision of the head of the department due to a compelling reason, such as falling ill. In principle, workdays, gigs or an exchange period abroad are not acceptable reasons to reschedule a level performance examination. You can see the full list of level performance examination dates on this page under “Examination dates”.

If, for a compelling reason, you need to complete a level examination outside the official examination dates, you must independently find and contact a chairperson for your examination board from the examination committee list for your instrument (see the section “Examination committees”). The chair is responsible for assembling the rest of the committee.

Optional level performance examinations

You can see the list of level performance examination dates on this page under “Examination dates”. Book a level performance examination by submitting an exam booking form. Please note that there are no predetermined examination dates for some instruments, and instead, you can suggest times that suit you.

Register for the profiency demonstration in piano

Register for the profiency demonstration here

How to register for a level performance examination

Once you have been informed of/booked a date, you can register in the Taito channel. You must submit the data no later than 8 weeks before your level performance examination date. This way, you will ensure that you get the support services (such as technology and concert hall attendant resources) you need and we can promote your concert to the public. If the level performance examination is held outside the Sibelius Academy (e.g. in a church), you must register for the examination at least 4 weeks in advance.

At least 10 weeks in advance of your examination

• Prepare a programme leaflet for your level performance examination. This is required for level A performance examinations, where the programme leaflet serves as a maturity test for a master’s thesis project. ​
• Check the instrument-specific guidelines in the study guide: https://opinto-opas.uniarts.fi/en/offering/S-TASO_2024/19811 ​
• When compiling the programme leaflet, remember to take the copyright of images and text into consideration.​
• Sheet music materials: In principle, you, as a student, are responsible for the purchase of sheet music. If you are arranging sheet music or otherwise require an agreement with the publisher (if you are performing only part of the score, for example), please contact the publisher yourself to confirm the rights and fees for the performance and arrangement of the work.

Gather the following information: ​

• Programme leaflet, provided as an attachment.​
• Works to be performed in the level performance examination (woodwind musicians must also include the durations of works)
• Vocal art and brass instruments: Repertoire rehearsed during the entire course of studies, provided as an attachment. List the repertoire rehearsed in a separate file, ask your teacher to sign it and scan it or take a photograph of it. For level performance examinations in string instruments or piano, you do not need to provide a separate list of the rehearsed repertoire.
  • Woodwinds, level B: Instead of the repertoire rehearsed, provide a repertoire portfolio.
  • Brass instruments: Include written assessments of matinee performances. 4 for level A, 5 for level B, 2 for level C (this is required when registering for recitals). Include all assessments in the same file.
• Information about the pianist, the ensemble or orchestra members as well as instruments you may use. Also mention which grand piano you will be using (the instrument will be tuned). If you want to use a harpsichord, mention this when registering. ​
• If you are putting together an orchestra for your level performance orchestra, contact the Orchestra Planning Officer Anna Rombach (anna.rombach@uniarts.fi) well in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts.

The programme and ensemble details you submit will be sent to the examination committee and published on the website, so please make sure that the information is up-to-date and spelled correctly.

You cannot use the same repertoire in a level performance examination and a chamber music examination – visit the Moodle chamber music pages for further instructions.

At least 8 weeks in advance (6 weeks in advance if your examination is in early music, church music or organ)

• Register for the level performance examination in the Taito channel. Provide the above-listed attachments when submitting your registration. ​
• Register even if you are still unsure about the programme. You can make changes to it later with permission from the chair of the examination committee.​
• On the form, enter the name of the person (professor or chair of the examination committee) approving the programme for your level performance examination. You do not need to know the chair of the committee for your personal level exam in advance. You can see the list of chairs on this page listing the examination committee members. Your designated teacher can approve the repertoire to be performed only for level D or lower level performance examinations (in piano, level C is possible, too).​
• Suggest suitable hall rehearsal times on the form. You can check the available times in Peppi (see also the additional information of the booking).​ The production services will book a rehearsal time for you based on your preferences and confirm your booking after you have registered.
  • Level A performance examination: 2 x the duration of the repertoire of the level exam,
  • Level A performance examination with an orchestra: 4 x the duration of the repertoire of the level exam,
  • Level B, C and D performance examinations: 1 x the duration of the repertoire of the level exam.  
• If your repertoire includes works or instruments that require amplification, remember to mention this on the form.
• If needed, get in touch with the planning officer of your department if you want to discuss the status of your studies or graduation. ​

At least 6 weeks in advance

You will receive a confirmation from the production team about your level performance examination and rehearsal time. When you have submitted your registration form, the person approving the form will check your program details. If there is something to remark on in your program details, the approver will contact you, and you will then need to supplement your registration in Taito channel. Please note that holiday seasons might extend the processing period for registrations.

If your performance forms part of a proficiency demonstration for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, then a planning officer will verify that you have completed the necessary prerequisites. Check the Study Guide to see whether this level performance examination forms part of a proficiency demonstration in your case.

Level performance examinations (A and B levels) that are open to the public are added to the Uniarts Helsinki event calendar automatically, and no other notice to the communications team is needed. If your concert is held at Musiikkitalo, it will also be featured on the Musiikkitalo website.

On the day of the level performance examination at the latest

• If needed, print programme leaflets to be handed to the audience and the examination committee.​
• Levels A and B: Inform the concert hall attendant about the running order of the concert and give them the printed programmes to be handed out.​
• Persons who are familiar with using the available recording equipment may make a recording of their level performance examination independently. Read the instructions for recording sessions on the website. Concert hall attendants take care of recordings for level A and B performance examinations.
• Foyers in the R Building are reserved as backstage areas during level performance examinations held in R-KS Concert hall and R-KMS Chamber music hall​.
• Enjoy your concert!​
• Listen to the feedback session with the examination committee, and you are also welcome to record it for your own use.

After the level performance examination

• Levels A and B: Download the recording of your level performance examination from the link sent via email by the concert hall attendant before it expires​.
• If copyrighted music is played in a public level performance examination concert (levels A and B), you must submit a notification to siba@teosto.fi ​
• There is no fixed format for the email, but it must state the time and venue of the concert, the performers and all the works performed (including the names of the composer, arranger and lyricist). Remember to send the notification right after the concert so that you don’t forget to send it.​

Examination committees

The committee members are primarily teachers employed by the Sibelius Academy. Depending on the discretion of the head of the department, the committees may also include:

• Sibelius Academy licentiate/doctoral students
• Persons outside the Sibelius Academy, or
• Teachers of other instruments or subjects than the one in question.

Repertoire lists

The repertoire list is an instrument-specific list of repertoires suitable for the level performance examinations. You will find repertoire lists below. You can find descriptions of the level performance examinations in Uniarts Helsinki’s study guide. 

Links to repertoire lists

• Guitar
• Kantele
• Vocal music
• Piano
• Flute
• Oboe
• French horn
• Trumpet, level performance descriptions  2019 – 2020, 1.8.2020 >
• Trombone
• Baritone
• Tuba
• Percussion
• Harp
• Violin, level performance descriptions incl. repetoire lists in study guide
• Double bass
• Organ

Examination dates

Examination dates for autumn 2026

Orchestral instruments

Woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone)

Woodwinds A x 3
23.11.2026 klo 15–22.30* R Concert hall (R-KS)
30.11.2026 klo 15–22.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)
3.12.2026 klo 11.30–15 R Concert hall (R-KS) (only two exams)
7.12.2026 klo 11–14 R Concert hall (R-KS) (only one exam)

Woodwinds BC x 3
1.12.2026 klo 15–21   R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
7.12.2026 klo 15–21   R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)

Brass instruments

Brass ABCD x 3 (+2)
3.11.2026 klo 15–21 R Concert hall (R-KS)
17.11.2026 klo 15–21* R Concert hall (R-KS)
24.11.2026 klo 15–21* R Concert hall (R-KS)
8.12.2026 klo 15–21 R Concert hall (R-KS)
18.12.2026 klo 15–21 Camerata

Practical exam x 3 (+2)
2.11.2026 klo 15–21 Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
9.11.2026 klo 15–21 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
16.11.2026 klo 15–21 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)

Percussion

Exam date is agreed with Olli-Pekka Martikainen (teacher in charge)

Harp 

Exam date is agreed with Päivi Severeide (teacher in charge)

String instruments

Violin A x 3
26.10.2026 klo 16–21.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)
2.11.2026 klo 16–21.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)
5.11.2026 klo 16–21.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)
9.11.2026 klo 16–21.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)
12.11.2026 klo 16–21.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)
19.11.2026 klo 16–21.30* R Concert hall (R-KS)
3.12.2026 klo 16–21.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)

Violin BC x 2
23.11.2026 klo 15–18 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
4.12.2026 klo 15–18 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
10.12.2026 klo 15–18 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)

Cello A x 2
25.11.2026 klo 16–19.30* R Concert hall (R-KS)
2.12.2026 klo 16–19.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)

Cello B x 2
24.11.2026 klo 15–18 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
11.12.2026 klo 15–18 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)

Viola and double bass ABCD x 2–4
 Vla x 3 29.10.2026 klo 11–15.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)
Vla x 4 4.11.2026 klo 15–21 R Concert hall (R-KS)
Vla & cb x 4 10.11.2026 klo 15–21 R Concert hall (R-KS)
Vla & cb x 4 18.11.2026 klo 15–21* R Concert hall (R-KS)
Vla & cb x 4 7.12.2026 klo 15–21 R Concert hall (R-KS)
Vla x 3 11.12.2026 klo 11–15.30 R Concert hall (R-KS)

Other instruments

Early music, accordion and kantele exam date is agreed with chair of the committee. Guitar exam date is agreed with chair of the committee and teacher. Organ exam date is agreed with chair of the committee and teacher in the department of Church Music.

Vocal music

Voice performance A x 2
2.11.2026 klo 17–20.30 Camerata
16.11.2026 klo 17–20.30* R Concert hall (R-KS)
10.12.2026 klo 17–20.30* R Concert hall (R-KS)

Voice performance B x 2
6.11.2026 klo 17–20 R Concert hall (R-KS)
13.11.2026 klo 17–20 R Concert hall (R-KS)
20.11.2026 klo 17–20* R Concert hall (R-KS)

Voice performance CD x 3
17.11.2026 klo 16–19 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
25.11.2026 klo 16–19 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS) (church music department)
3.12.2026 klo 16–19 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
9.12.2026 klo 16–19 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)

Piano

Piano A x 2
26.11.2026 klo 15–19.15 R Concert hall (R-KS)
1.12.2026 klo 16–20.15 R Concert hall (R-KS)
4.12.2026 klo 15–19.15 R Concert hall (R-KS)
11.12.2026 klo 16.30–20.45 R Concert hall (R-KS)

Piano B x 2
12.11.2026 klo 15–18.30 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS) 
2.12.2026 klo 15–18.30 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
8.12.2026 klo 15–18.30 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)

Piano CD x 4
20.11.2026 klo 15–20 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)
27.11.2026 klo 15–20 R Chamber music hall (R-KMS)

*Level performances requiring harpsichord accompaniment.

Instruments that require a booking e.g. harpsichord and portative organ

Harpsichord and portative organ booking

If your examination involves a harpsichord or portative organ, contact Annamari Pölhö (annamari.polho@uniarts.fi) at least one month before to agree on its use and booking. Inform Annamari:

• instrument
• hall
• time
• tune (415/442 Hz)
• keyboard player
• does the keyboard player tune the instrument or do you need someone else to do it

At R-building, Annamari orders paid transport for harpsichord moves, so the instrument requirements must be known well in advance. At M-building, the stage team handles the moves. If your performance is canceled, remember to notify Annamari immediately.

When registering in the Taito channel for the level performance examinations, please mention your need for harpsichord / portative organ as well as the tuning (415/442 Hz). The instrument transports are basically organised on the examination weeks. The Klop organ moves at R House are handled independently.

A harpsichord and a positive organ are available for level performance examinations and concerts at the R Building (concert hall, chamber music hall and small hall), at the N Building (rooms N-K48 and N-K55) and at the Music Centre (Camerata and Organo). The harpsichord is brought to the R Concert Hall for two weeks each semester and to the R Chamber Music Hall for one week, so only reserve exam time during those weeks if you need the harpsichord!

If your level performance examination is cancelled

1. In case of a cancellation, first inform your teacher and other performers and send a message to the address siba.help.ilmo@uniarts.fi, which will forward the information to the members of the examination committee. You can reschedule or cancel your level performance examination only due to a compelling reason, such as due to falling ill.
2. Book the hall for another date by emailing siba.help.ilmo@uniarts.fi.  
3. If necessary, register again by submitting a new level performance examination form in the Taito channel. If your programme does not change, your previous registration remains valid, and you do not need to fill in a new form.  

If you have not registered for a level performance examination but want to cancel a preliminary booking, send the notification to siba.help.ilmo@uniarts.fi.  

Further information about arranging a level performance examination

If you have any questions related to arranging a level performance examination, please contact siba.help.ilmo@uniarts.fi.