INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMPOSERS
A FREE SCHEME FOR
ASPIRING COMPOSERS
Our aim is to nurture and develop a new generation of choral composers by providing educational mentoring and opportunities through our ORA Singers Young Composers’ scheme. The programme is aimed at under 18s from UK state-schools, selecting those who would benefit from the mentoring programme and demonstrate a real flair and passion for composition.
The Young Composers’ scheme first launched in 2019, with 10 students selected from across the UK. Since then, the Young Composers’ scheme has now benefitted nearly 200 students from all corners of the United Kingdom.
FIND OUT MORE BELOW
193
Students mentored
50
New works premiered
149
Schools involved
HOW IT WORKS
The ORA Singers Young Composers’ scheme is open to secondary students from non fee-paying schools across the UK. Each year, the scheme welcomes 50 students who will receive FREE first-class coaching in choral composition. Successful applicants are enrolled as either Young Composers or Apprentices.
YOUNG COMPOSERS
10 applicants are selected to enrol as Young Composers.
Each Young Composer receives up to 10 hours of free one-to-one mentoring with a professional composer, who helps them write a new piece for ORA Singers.
Mentors develop areas of need or interest, helping them become confident choral composers.
Young Composers have their ideas workshopped by ORA Singers, who offer tips and advice along with a Guest Composer.
At the end of the scheme, Young Composers have their new pieces performed and recorded by ORA Singers in front of a live audience and a panel of industry experts. Each Young Composer receives detailed feedback from the panel, along with a video recording to kick-start their portfolios.
APPRENTICES
40 applicants are selected to become Apprentices, who are enrolled onto a free course of online, in-depth workshops with composer and choral leader, Rory Wainwright Johnston.
The Apprentice scheme is designed to fast-track compositional development, with each workshop focussing on a specific area in choral composition, eg. techniques, harmony, history, texture, notation, and more.
Apprentices are given tasks which exercise the skills introduced in each session, and receive regular feedback each week.
By the end of the scheme, each Apprentice will have written a new short choral piece.
Apprentices are also given opportunities to meet with industry professionals and composition students in higher education, offering them a chance to gain an insight into the professional world of composition.
WORKSHOPS
Apprentices attend 1x workshop every 1-2 weeks.
Apprentices are split into 2 groups of 20, attending the majority of workshops on Mondays/Tuesdays, 5pm - c. 6:15pm.
OPEN TO STATE SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE
Since its inception in 2019, the Young Composers' programme has grown to reach state schools across the length and breadth of the UK.
As of 2024, the Young Composers' programme has benefitted nearly 200 students, with 149 schools involved.
Many alumni have gone on to secure places at some of the UK's top Universities and Conservatoires to study Music or Composition. Some have even been approached by international festivals for commissions as a result of their participation in the scheme.
"I would 100% recommend applying, even if you just compose for fun. You never know what it could open up."
- Atharv Gupta, 2024 Young Composer
"You don't need experience writing for voices"
- Atharv Gupta, 2024 Young Composer
"My mentor enabled me to experiment with ideas, without her, I wouldn't have known how far I can stretch the voices."
- Cara Wilkins, 2023 Young Composer
"There's nothing like the nuances you get from having real singers."
- Erin Snape, 2022 Young Composer
"To have professional singers sing your music and give feedback - it's something you don't get anywhere else."
- Annabel Baxter, 2024 Young Composer & Winner
"The workshop was amazing. Hearing my music for the first time, performed by real singers was incredible."
- Bella Blood, 2023 Young Composer
"The professional singers were really magical, they could just sing whatever you put on the paper."
- Cara Wilkins, 2023 Young Composer
"It was so helpful to bring ideas to my mentor, who would help shape my music and definitely improved the final result."
- Harry Baines, 2022 Young Composer
"My mentor have me invaluable advice, and was patient and supportive the whole way through."
- Rosanna Fenn, 2022 Young Composer
DOWNLOAD THE YOUNG COMPOSERS' BROCHURE
The 2024 Young Composers’ programme has been generously supported by
