Performance Opportunities
A one-stop shop for all performance opportunities available at Leeds Conservatoire, outside your lessons!
About this page
There are lots of performance opportunities available at Leeds Conservatoire outside your programme.
No matter what you study, the door is open to several events where student input is celebrated. Please read the below topics for more information.
Conservatoire Concerts & Productions
We have a number of Conservatoire Concerts and Productions put on throughout the year. Many of these concerts are the culmination of our ensemble projects.
Sounds of Leeds Conservatoire
As our flagship showcase series, The Sounds of Leeds Conservatoire (SOLC) concerts aim to celebrate the talent of students at Leeds Conservatoire, across all genres.
Each show is headlined by a high profile industry guest talk/Q&A; in the last 12 months we have had guests such as Jay Rayner, Mat Welsh (While She Sleeps), Sharon Watson MBE, and conservatoire principal Joe Wilson.
SOLC is a great space to showcase your work to a different audience, including music solicitors, agents, and other music industry profiles. Generally, the opportunity to play at SOLC comes via invitation, however we welcome expressions of interest to feature, please include social media links, released tracks, demos, promo images, and anything else you have to showcase.
School Initiatives
Each of our four academic schools organise events throughout the academic year which you can perform at or be involved with.
Behind the Beats
Every month, the School of Music Production & Events host Behind the Beats.
This is an opportunity for production and electronic music production students to play their music and get feedback and answer questions from a live audience.
Behind the Beats is organised by Senior Lecturer Jonathan Hibbard, can get in touch with him if you’d like to be involved.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
Crossroad Sessions
The Crossroad Sessions are a public showcase event that bring students from the Folk, Roots & Blues pathway together with audiences in curated performances and public sessions.
Beginning with a curated hour-long showcase of performances from the Folk, Roots & Blues students, the evening then moves into our Café-Bar for a public tune and song session that everyone is welcome to join in with.
All Folk, Roots & Blues students and staff are invited to attend, and students are encouraged to promote the events publicly. The events run four times a year and take place from 7pm until late.
Crosswire
Crosswire is an initiative from the Schools of Popular Music & Voice, and Music Production & Events, bringing together students from many of our programmes.
- Crosswire Live: showcases of the best music from across the schools, featuring live bands, DJs, and drinks promotions!
- Crosswire Sessions: Recorded and filmed live-lounge style sessions in our studios.
- Crosswire Share: a library of audio stems from the sessions, for mix practice, remixing, top-lining, and other creative uses.
Crosswire Sessions
Crosswire Share
LConnect
LConnect is a new collaboration platforming, helping you make connections with your fellow students for new creative projects.
If you want to perform at one of the events on this page but haven’t formed a band yet, this is a great place to start!
- Find bandmates, session musicians, and collaborators
- Share your music links and details with others
- Search using key terms like instrument and genre/style
Take-overs at Oporto
Pop & Songwriting take-overs at local music venue Oporto!
These vibrant live music events take place in a musical hub and iconic venue within the Leeds Music Scene, Oporto bar on Call Lane, LS1 7BT.
We encourage student bands with original music to apply, where a broad selection of genres and styles are welcome.
These events are public, so family and friends are able to come along and support; it can be a great platform for promoting your music in the city and gaining new followers and making connections with potential promoters as well.
Omni
An electronic music production performance showcase for students of the School of Music Production and Events.
This takes place once per semester and is organised in conjunction with Leeds Conservatoire DJ society.
Open Mics
The School of Popular Music & Voice will be offering a series of joint Pop & Songwriting Open Mic events, with two events in each Semester.
These are a great opportunity to perform and share music in a very relaxed and supportive setting. It is a low-pressure performance within a warm and welcoming environment. You are welcome to share material old and new, original or covers.
A sign-up email will be sent to all Pop and Songwriting students across the School of Pop and Voice a few weeks in advance of the event so that successful applicants can be notified one-week before the event.
This is more of an “unplugged” gig vibe, with accompaniment limited to: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, or electric piano. Drum kits are not permitted due to noise levels in the venue.
School of Music Production & Events Annual Showcase
Students from the School of Music Production and Events are given the opportunity to take the lead in planning, curating, and performing at the school’s annual showcase.
This includes overseeing all technical aspects and coordinating the performances for the event!
External & Industry Performance Ops
You can get the opportunity to perform at festivals and external events! As well as gaining paid function work through our agencies.
Perform At Festivals
- 110 Above Festival 2025: Placement Opportunities (now closed)
- Kendal Calling and Parklife 2025: Placement Opportunities (now closed)
- Moovin Festival 2025: Placement Opportunities (now closed)
- Deer Shed Festival 2025: Performance and Placement Opportunities (now closed)
- We Out Here Festival 2025: Performance and Placement Opportunities (now closed)
- Liverpool Sound City 2025: Performance Opportunities (now closed)
Join Our Agency
The Leeds Conservatoire Agency connects you with paid performance opportunities across the UK, from weddings to festivals. Working with partners like Futuresound and The Hifi Club, the Agency helps you begin and build sustainable careers.
Or if you’re on one of our School of Drama programmes, the Performing Arts Agency can help! We can connect you with casting and performance opportunities to help launch your careers. We also assist with finding you representation and building professional portfolios tailored to your goals.