Set up to support composers looking to take the next step in their career, Nonclassical AiR (artist in residence) provides artists with the opportunity to showcase their music through Nonclassical events and releases, as well as further their professional development through workshops and mentoring. This programme is supported by the Jerwood Developing Artists Fund, PRS foundation’s Open Fund and Vaughan Williams Foundation.
The Nonclassical AiR scheme has been developed to give four early career artists a 360-degree view of what it takes to be a composer in today’s musical landscape. One of the four artists will also be supported to gain notation skills.
Over the scheme, composers have the opportunity to:
- A paid commission (at MU rate or above) to write a 3-5 minute orchestral piece for Southbank Sinfonia or Her Ensemble, premiered as part of their 2025 programme.
- Support to develop notation skills / engraving for one composer with no classical training, with a budget of £1000.
- A paid commission of £2000 to write an open score piece for the Contemporary Music for All Festival.
- The opportunity to record a short piece for Nonclassical’s compilation series Outside the Lines.
- The opportunity to contribute to Nonclassical’s programme of curated events.
- Professional mentoring, training and coaching sessions from established composers and industry figures and a qualified coach shaped around your interests, skills gaps and goals.
Previous Associate Composers have since received commissions from Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (hcmf//), BalletBoyz, LA Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra; as well as being Royal Philharmonic Society prize winners, received fellowships and residencies at Tanglewood Music Center and Snape Maltings, and been part of the LPO Young Composers Scheme.
