Nonclassical’s Associate Composers Scheme offers four composers opportunities to showcase their music through events and releases, and further their professional development through workshops and mentoring.
Our four Associate Composers for 2021-22 (Emily Abdy, Atefeh Einali, Elischa Kaminer and Simon Knighton) have produced incredible work over the past year and a half - here’s a round-up of what they’ve been up to, from commissions for CoMA and Southbank Sinfonia, releasing their tracks on Outside the Lines Vol. 5, to curating their live events.
We are seeking to raise funds to make the next iteration of the scheme possible: to donate, please click the button below.
releases
Our composers were given the opportunity to record a short piece for our label compilation series Outside the Lines, which The Wire referred to as a “useful sampler of adventurous work by emerging artists.” The full album is available for download on our Bandcamp, and you can watch our interviews with the composers below.
events
CoMA Commission
Each composer undertook a paid commission to write an open score piece for the Contemporary Music for All (CoMA) Festival. Their scores were developed in workshops alongside members of CoMA’s regional ensembles in London, Sheffield and Manchester, and were premiered during the 2022 Festival.
You can watch Emily Abdy, Atefeh Einali and Simon Knighton’s commissions below:
curated concert
Our composers were invited to curate their own event for our 2021-22 programme, which saw events in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. They were given complete curatorial control, deciding on venue, artists, and programme, dealing with ideas of play, traditional instruments, experimental approaches to vocal music, and creative sound design.
Watch Elischa Kaminer’s curated event: Resurrection Games, vol. II: to paint over and make sense.
You can read more about all our composers’ events on our highlights blogs:
orchestral commission
Our composers undertook a large-scale orchestral commission for the Southbank Sinfonia in February 2023, performed by Southbank Sinfonia and conductor Toby Thatcher. As part of the scheme the composers were given the opportunity to workshop their ideas with the orchestra at a rehearsal hosted at the Purcell School:
All four works were premiered at St John’s Smith Square, in a performance also featuring pieces by Nonclassical artist Alex Paxton, alongside works by Elaine Mitchener and more. Take a look at the event here (photos © Dimitri Djuric):
feedback
Simon knighton
Simon Knighton: image © Dimitri Djuric
“The associate composer scheme with Nonclassical was a truly amazing experience to be part of. I feel incredibly lucky to have been selected and am quite sad now it is over! Each of the four projects/commissions we took part in were fantastic and each could have been a scheme on their own in many respects. I particularly enjoyed and feel proud of the concert I curated - it was a great experience to be given free rein to produce and develop my own show with so much professional support.
The whole team at Nonclassical were very friendly and easygoing and made what could have been quite a pressured and intense set of projects feel very safe – I certainly felt comfortable trying things with the Southbank Sinfonia orchestra commission which I wouldn’t have felt secure trying in more tense circumstances.
My next steps are to curate another concert, to finish and release an album of music that I started with the Outside the Lines release, and potentially to develop a show for electronics that I could perform myself. I would also like to develop a sound sculpture concert designed especially for people with autism. And I also need to finish my PhD at some point!”
atefeh einali
Atefeh Einali: image © Dimitri Djuric
"Working with Nonclassical helped me overcome fears and explore new ideas as a composer and musician. They have been there for me at every step of the way, encouraging me to go further and pursue my dreams".
emily abdy
Emily Abdy
“I’ve had some informative and enriching experiences I likely wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for taking part in the Nonclassical Associate Composers Scheme and I’ve felt fully supported throughout. It’s helped build confidence as a composer and professional creative. I’m looking forward to building on the work I’ve done during the scheme.”
elischa kaminer
Elischa Kaminer: Image © Dimitri Djuric
“During my time as an associate composer with nonclassical, I had the chance to develop my artistic practice as a composer, theatre maker and performer in a free, deeply inspiring and radically uncompromising capacity. The supportive network that the entire NC staff provided, was invaluable, both in terms of receiving mentoring, professional development advice and guidance as well as financial as well as infrastructural support during the development of the works created specifically as part of the scheme.”
If you’ve enjoyed reading about or seeing the work of our Associate Composers, please consider supporting Nonclassical with a donation so we can continue to support emerging artists making exciting and adventurous new music.
Nonclassical is grateful for the support from PRS for Music Foundation, the Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust, Royal Northern College of Music, Margaret Engering Music Trust, Southbank Sinfonia and Contemporary Music for All.
Nonclassical is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner supported by PPL and in association with Youth Music UK.
NONCLASSICAL WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FOR SUPPORTING THE 2021-22 ASSOCIATE COMPOSERS COMMISSION FUND, AND TO OUR MANY INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS WHO PREFER TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
Mike Auld
Shane Burmania
Martijn Buser
Yung-Yee Chen
Jessica Cottis
Susanna Eastburn
Brian Elias
Matthew Gill
Paul Harwood
Francesco Raeli
Nick Rampley
Colin Runeckles
Colin Smith
Peter Smith
Catharine Waters
Gavin Wayte
Harriet Wybor
Rosie Hatherley
Frances High
Jonathan Hope
Natasha Marks
Colin Matthews
Flori Maunders
Michael Noonan
Miika Pihlaja
Jocelyn Poulton