We sat down for an exclusive interview with the Head of Short Courses at Guildhall School, Laurie
Michel-Hutteau.
Guildhall is one of the most prestigious conservatoires in the world. What does it mean to you
to introduce children as young as eight to this environment through the short courses
programme?
It’s a privilege to open the doors of a world-renowned conservatoire like Guildhall School to as many people as possible. One of the things I love most about our short courses programme is
that we welcome participants from the age of eight onwards, with no upper age limit on many of
our courses.
Short courses participants get a genuine insight into what it feels like to learn at Guildhall. They
work with expert tutors from the School and industry professionals who bring a wealth of
experience into the classroom. We hold our short courses to the same high standards that
people associate with Guildhall, so participants really do get an authentic conservatoire
experience.
For young people in particular, these courses are an opportunity to explore their interests,
develop their skills, meet like-minded people and build confidence in a supportive and creative
environment. It’s always so exciting to meet our participants and see how much fun they have
and the amazing progress they’ve made by the end of the course and how they have grown in
confidence.
When you’re putting your short courses programme together, what guides your choices – is
there something important to you?
Several things guide our choices. We want the programme to be relevant, engaging, diverse,
accessible and, above all, of the highest quality.
We regularly reflect on what would be valuable to both returning participants and new audiences,
while also ensuring the programme reflects the breadth of expertise available at Guildhall School.
Alongside specialist training, we look at wider themes and skills that are increasingly important
within the creative industries.
Lifelong learning is also at the heart of our approach. We are passionate about creating
opportunities for people at every stage of life, whether they are exploring a new interest,
developing existing skills or considering a career change.
Your programme offers courses in music and drama, alongside opportunities to develop skills
relevant to the wider creative industries, such as networking and PR. How important is it to
give young people access to these skills and help them understand the range of career
opportunities available within the creative industries?
It’s incredibly important. The creative industries are far broader than many people realise, and I hope that short courses can help participants discover the wide range of careers and opportunities that exist.
Our Production Arts short courses are a good example of this. They attract both young people
considering a future in theatre and professionals looking to strengthen or refresh their skills.
When I was younger, I knew about careers such as curating in museums, but I had very little
awareness of the many other roles that existed within cultural organisations. I never imagined I
would one day be developing a short courses programme for a conservatoire. That’s why I think
exposure matters. The more young people can see the breadth of opportunities available, the
more empowered they are to find a path that genuinely excites them. I am hoping that young
people are becoming increasingly aware of the myriad of possibilities to work and engage with the
creative industries.
Many of the evening courses are open to beginners and don’t require an audition process.
How important is it that the short courses programmes are accessible for beginners?
It’s absolutely central to what we do. We want to make the conservatoire experience accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of age, background or previous experience.
Our participants join us for all sorts of reasons. Some are exploring a passion, others are
considering a career change, and some simply want to learn something new and enjoy the
experience. We’ve welcomed learners from around the world, from Singapore and Australia to
France, Germany and the United States, ranging in age from eight to 91.
Removing auditions from most of our courses removes a barrier that can feel daunting or time-
consuming. Instead, participants can choose the learning experience that’s right for them, and
we’re always happy to advise before booking.
That doesn’t mean the courses are any less rigorous. Participants are still challenged,
encouraged and supported by tutors who are passionate about excellence in teaching.
Accessibility is also something that Guildhall School is deeply committed to more broadly. The
work of the Access & Participation Team is invaluable, and we offer participation bursaries on
selected short courses each year to help young people access high-quality training and support
their future aspirations.
What do you hope participants take away from the courses?
I hope they leave with new knowledge, greater confidence and a sense of pride in what they’ve
achieved.
I also hope they leave with something less tangible but just as important: new friendships,
meaningful connections and joyful memories. Learning is about more than what happens in a
classroom. Some of the most memorable moments come from conversations during breaks,
meeting people with shared interests and being part of a creative community.
We try to create an environment that feels welcoming, supportive and enjoyable from the first
enquiry through to the final day of the course. If participants leave feeling inspired and
encouraged to continue their creative journey, then we’ve done our job.
What have previous participants of the short courses gone on to do?
The great thing about our participants is that there isn’t one single answer to that question.
Some have gone on to successfully audition for Guildhall School and become full-time students
in Music, Drama or Production Arts. Others have changed career direction after gaining the
confidence and skills they needed through a short course. We’ve had participants write and stage
their own plays, pursue further professional training and launch creative projects of their own.
What has been the biggest change to the short courses programme since you started working
here to now?
Without doubt, the scale and reach of the programme.
Today we offer three terms of Evening Courses each year, alongside more than 50 Summer
Schools and 15 Easter Short Courses. It’s been incredibly exciting to see the programme grow,
both in terms of the number of courses available and the people we reach. In 2026 alone, we
welcomed more than 1,000 participants to our Summer Schools.
We’ve also expanded the range of disciplines and subjects we offer, allowing us to respond to
new interests and industry developments.
Perhaps most rewarding of all is seeing participants return year after year. Whether they take
multiple courses in a single year or come back every summer, it’s a sign that they’ve found
something valuable in the experience, and that’s incredibly rewarding for our team.
Guildhall School runs short courses throughout the year. Find out more at gsmd.ac.uk/ study-with-