Applications to join Nonclassical AiR have now closed. The next round of applications will open in 2025.

Are you a composer looking to take the next step in your career?

We're looking for four UK-based composers who display exceptional ability and potential to join Nonclassical’s Air (artist in residence) in 2024/25. THIS PROGRAMME IS SUPPORTED BY THE JERWOOD DEVELOPING ARTISTS FUND, PRS FOUNDATION’S OPEN FUND, VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION, SAMUEL GARDNER MEMORIAL TRUST AND GARRICK CHARITABLE TRUST.

Nonclassical’s AiR supports the artistic development of unsigned and unpublished early-career composers, who are creating exciting new contemporary classical, electronic and experimental music.

The 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 be supported to gain notation skills, and therefore artists with no experience with notated work and/or classical training are encouraged to apply.

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.

Find out more about our Associate Composers 2021-23 >>>

Find out more about our Associate Composers 2019–20 >>>

Find out more about our Associate Composers 2016–17 >>> 

 

WHAT NONCLASSICAL AIR offers:

• 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 in March 2024.

• The opportunity to record a track for Nonclassical’s compilation EP 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 shaped around your interests, skills gaps and goals.

We are looking for:

• Composers over 18.

• UK-based composers.

• Early-career artists. For more information on what counts as early career please read Jerwood Arts’ definition here.

• Composers who do not have a recording or publishing contract.

• Composers who will not be in formal education (undergraduate or postgraduate, including practice-based PhD) for the duration of the scheme.

• Composers who have never received a paid orchestral commission.

• Artists displaying exceptional ability and potential from any genre and/or musical background who can work with notated music – this does not have to be traditional Western musical notation, and may include practices such as graphic notation, text instruction scores or workflow from a DAW.

• Candidates whose career and artistic development would significantly benefit from this opportunity.

• One of the four places on the programme is ringfenced for composer with limited or no experience with notation, or without classical training. This composer will receive additional support with their notation work.

• One of the four places on the programme is ringfenced for a marginalised gender composer.

We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented and/or marginalised groups in music, including but not limited to marginalised gender people, Black, Asian or ethnically diverse, and/or disabled artists.

The programme requires an ongoing, part-time commitment over the course of 18 months (from October 2023 to May 2025). We understand participants are likely to want to balance their activities with other commitments. 

Nonclassical will also provide a budget of financial support to remove any barriers to participation; this includes travel, accommodation, childcare, assistance. Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration upon offer of a place on the scheme.

How to apply 

Applications have now closed for Nonclassical AiR.

Applications will be assessed by the Nonclassical team with support from a diverse panel of external advisors. The panellists are: Natalia Franklin Pierce (Nonclassical), Marcella Keating (Nonclassical), Gabriel Prokofiev (Nonclassical), Yung-Yee Chen, Shiry Rashkovsky, Sam Mackay, Ellie Consta, and Yfat Soul Zisso. Decisions will be made in line with Sound and Music’s Fair Access Principles.

Eligible applicants will be selected by Friday 29 September 2023, based on the following criteria:

• The craft and originality of submitted musical examples.

• Responses to our application questions.

• The perceived impact the scheme could have on the applicant’s career and artistic development.

• Seeking a diverse cohort of four to complement each other, in terms of musical styles, ethnicity, gender and age.

All shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to request feedback. If you were not shortlisted, feedback will unfortunately not be available due to staff capacity.

If you have any questions about the process or your suitability, please contact blue maignien on blue@nonclassical.co.uk.

FAQs

NONCLASSICAL AIR IS SUPPORTED BY THE JERWOOD DEVELOPING ARTISTS FUND, PRS FOUNDATION’S OPEN FUND, VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION, SAMUEL GARDNER MEMORIAL TRUST AND GARRICK CHARITABLE TRUST.

In partnership with Southbank Sinfonia, Contemporary Music for All (coma), her ensemble and Zeitgeist.

Application and selection process in accordance with Sound and Music’s Fair Access Principles.