Young Composers Course

About the Young Composers Course 

This is a unique opportunity for composers aged 14–18 to receive one-to-one tutoring, undertake workshops and hear their own composition performed by staff and students from Junior Guildhall and Guildhall School.

The course, which will take place over Zoom, is designed for students working towards GCSE or A Level Music and/or students hoping to enhance their composition skills outside of an exam environment.

You will work with an experienced composition teacher on a one-to-one basis, in addition to taking part in two group workshops (introductory and closing) led by esteemed Guildhall staff. The final workshop will include an opportunity for course tutors to explore and perform student compositions and offer valuable feedback.

The course leader is Paul Whitmarsh and the workshop leader is Jeffery Wilson. 

Please be aware that the course is not GCSE/A-Level exam board specific.
 

Course Dates and Application Deadlines

Autumn Term
Opening Workshop 21 September 2022 – Closing Workshop 30 November 2022
Deadline extended: Apply on or before 16 September 5pm, 2022

Spring Term     
Opening Workshop 11 January 2023 – Closing Workshop 22 March 2023
Apply on or before 3 January 2023

Summer Term
Opening Workshop 26 April 2023 – Closing Workshop 5 July 2023
Apply on or before 17 April 2023

Special Offer: Annual Course 
Book for all three courses from September to July and save £150, and receive an additional masterclass with an esteemed industry professional. 

Course Times

The opening and closing workshops will start online at 5.30pm. 
The six individual lessons are organised by arrangement between the tutor and student/parent.

Entry Requirements

Students will be offered a place based on availability and an appropriate level of knowledge and experience in composition.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the application form here. Once you have submitted this form, we will review your application and one of the team will contact you if we are able to offer you a place.

Course Materials

• The means to notate your music and share it with teachers and instrumentalists. This can be done with notation software (such as Sibelius, Dorico or Musescore), or on manuscript paper that is scanned and uploaded (www.camscanner.com may assist).
• An email address
• A reliable internet connection
• A computer/laptop/tablet with a microphone and a camera.
• Your browser fully updated to be able to use the most recent version of Zoom (if using an Apple device we recommend installing an alternative browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla).

Funding

Guildhall Young Artists Access Bursaries
Bursaries are available to applicants who meet our criteria. Please read the details on the application form carefully, which you can download here. 

City of London Bursary Funding
Limited Funding is available for pupils who attend a City of London School or Academy and meet our eligibility criteria. This may be awarded to cover all or part of the cost of the course depending upon the number of applications. Please complete the course application from indicating if you attend a City of London School or Academy and a member of the team will be in touch in due course.

Please see our deadlines for bursary applications: 

Autumn term course - applications must be received on or before 12 September 2022
Spring term course - applications must be received on or before 3 January 2023
Summer term course - applications must be received on or before 17 April 2023

Bursary funding is available for a single term. If you are applying for the annual course, an application for bursary funding will need to be made for each term. Please note, that if you qualify for a term's funding, we are not able to guarantee more than one term's funding in advance of signing up for the annual course. 

Safeguarding

All of our teachers have had an enhanced DBS check and have received rigorous safeguarding training, which includes remote teaching. Please see our safeguarding policy for further details.

We have also put together safeguarding protocol for remote teaching, which we recommend all parents and carers read before a child undertakes online learning with us. 

Guildhall School strives to ensure the safeguarding of all students through robust safeguarding policies, training to staff, compliance with statutory guidance and stringent quality assurance processes. We are also committed to diversity, equality and creating a safe space for students and staff, free from bullying, racism or discriminating behaviour.

FAQ's

Our full list of FAQ's can be found on the Guildhall Young Artists Online page.