The Licentiate in Music, Australia (LMusA) is a diploma awarded by examination to outstanding candidates in the fields of musical performance and music theory by the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB).
AMEB administers music examinations in Australia, and its Licentiate diploma is considered a highly prestigious award, with the national pass rate being around 10% of candidates. Typically, a candidate will have already completed AMEB exams up to the Associate diploma level prior to attempting the LMusA, although there is no requirement for this. The requirement is to have successfully completed a Grade 6 theory examination for a practical LMusA, and a Grade 6 practical examination for a theory LMusA. Above the LMusA is the most prestigious Fellowship in Music, Australia (FMusA), although this level of attainment is so rare that it is mostly awarded on an Honorary basis, making the LMusA effectively the highest qualification attainable.
An LMusA practical examination is conducted by two federal examiners. Candidates must present a repertoire from the prescribed lists of pieces that is 40 minutes, but no more than 50 minutes in length, with a further ten minutes testing musical general knowledge of the pieces presented. Candidates receive one of three grades at diploma level: "no award", "pass", and the exceptional "pass with distinction" (very rarely awarded). As the AMEB is considered the benchmark of music examination boards in Australia, achieving this award is seen as very prestigious, and signifies a very high performance standard.
The LMusA is awarded in these categories:
Theory
Keyboard
Strings
Woodwind
Orchestral Brass
Brass Band
Singing
Ensemble Performance