Are you a composer looking for opportunities to grow as an artist?
we’re looking for four uk-based composers who display a unique artistic voice and development potential to join nonclassical air (artists in residence) in 2026.
with thanks to our funders: the mila charitable organisation, vaughan williams foundation, idlewild trust, radcliffe trust, fenton arts trust, and the margaret engering music trust.
nonclassical is honoured to open applications for our long-running artist development programme. Since 2016, the scheme has supported 16 artists including the likes of Nneka Cummins, Blasio Kavuma, Laurence Osborn and Atefeh Einali. Former participants have received national recognition (Ivor Novello and RPS Awards), major commissions (BBC Proms and LA Phil), and further opportunities with both nonclassical and other organisations (signed to publishing labels, invited to prestigious festivals) following our support.
Nonclassical AiR supports the artistic development of unsigned and unpublished early-career composers, who are creating stand-out new contemporary classical, electronic and/or experimental music that chimes with our ethos .
The scheme has been specially developed to give four early-career artists a 360-degree view of what it takes to be a composer in today’s musical landscape, across commissions, curating and promoting events, releasing music, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of how the music industry operates and who operates it.
Former editions of the Artists in Residence programme have featured: a takeover at the Southbank Centre, concerts at the Glad Cafe (Glasgow) and Ormside Projects (London), and partnership events with Contemporary Music for All (CoMA) and Sinfonia Smith Square.
what nonclassical air offers
In the first year of the scheme, the four artists will:
* Receive a £1,000 fee to write a piece for soloist or collaborate with an ensemble on a curated concert.
* Meet with a dedicated mentor of your choice.
* Engage with a qualified career coach to shape goals and provide a confidential space to help overcome any challenges.
* Undertake a bespoke package of professional training sessions based on goals and skills gaps.
Subject to successful fundraising, in the second year of the programme selected artists will:
* Develop a short piece for ensemble, remunerated at Musicians Union commission rates, based on a baroque dance form for Vache Baroque, with workshop time to test out ideas.
* Contribute to Nonclassical’s programme of curated events.
* Continue mentoring, coaching and professional development sessions to support both creative and professional development.
A budget of financial support will be provided to remove any barriers to participation which may include travel, accommodation, childcare or other assistance. Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration upon offer of a place on the scheme. Please indicate on the form any access requirements you may have to enable your participation.
what we are looking for
* Composers over 18.
* UK-based composers.
* Early-career composers (this does not necessarily equate with age). For more information on what counts as early career please scroll to our FAQs section.
* 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.
* 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, in order to collaborate with other musicians (with the potential for added notation support).
* Candidates whose career and artistic development would significantly benefit from this opportunity.
* At least one of the four spaces on the programme will be ringfenced for an artist with limited to no experience with Western classical notation, or without a background in formal classical training, to receive additional support with notating their ideas.
* We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented and/or marginalised groups in music, including but not limited to women and marginalised gender, Black, Asian or ethnically diverse, and/or disabled artists.
* Artists who are able to dedicate to an ongoing, part-time commitment over the course of up to 24 months (from June 2026 to April 2028). We understand participants are likely to want to balance their activities with other commitments, and this is certainly possible. There will be activity during the day and the evenings, and will be communicated in advance and we will aim to be flexible where possible.
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