European Conservatories to apply to for Artist's Diplomas

[chopinista11]

I've been researching studying in Europe after I receive my Master's degree this May. Ideally, I'm looking in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the U.K., considering that I speak some German and loved it when I visited last summer. Right now I'm thinking that I will apply to:
RCM, London
Mozarteum, Salzburg
Hochschule für Musik "Hanss Eisler" in Berlin
Hochschule in Munich

Their websites are very difficult to navigate and I have no idea what the expectations are.
Do they expect you to travel there to audition?
Why are the auditions in Germany so late (May/June) - is this correct?

Do you also have other recommendations of schools?

Any tips would be useful. I don't know anyone at my school who knows much about this...
Thanks for your help!

[pbryld]

Copenhagen has been considered one of the "best" cities in the wold in the last few years (some nominations etc.), but how the conservatory ("Royal Danish Academy") compares to the rest of the conservatories in Europe, I don't know.

If you choose by the city as much as the conservatory, it may be a viable choice. You will get by with English just fine, I don't think you'll need to learn a word of Danish.

[chopinista11]

Thanks! I looked into it and I think I'll apply. Is it really difficult to get into? And do you know about the faculty - any teachers you would recommend studying with?

[pbryld]

I think Jens Elvekjær is the best (and most well-known) teacher there. Leif Ove Andsnes also teaches there, but I don't think that he teaches at the conservatory on a regular basis (weekly/monthly).

It isn't really difficult to get into, not like the big conservatories in the US and the one in Paris etc., but it isn't very easy either.

[pianoman53]

Copenhagen isn't a very good school. Officially, Leif Ove Andsnes is a teacher there, but he's never there. The piano students there aren't really good either.

If you're serious with your studies, you should go for teacher and not for city.  Do you know soem teachers in Europe? In case you do, contact them, and ask.

[chopinista11]

No, I don't really know any teachers abroad unfortunately.

I'm a good, but not amazing pianist, so I'm really just looking for a good fit. I think RCM is probably a huge stretch. My audition rep includes Beethoven 101 and Chopin B minor sonata, along with a few other things. I'm a good performer but have never participated in any competitions, which will probably hurt me in the application process.