Free Opportunities for Composers Under 18
It can very much feel like being a small fish in a big pond when starting out as a composer and that feeling is definitely amplified if you are yet to be an adult. As such, here is a selection of free schemes and competitions available to aspiring young composers. You may also be interested in visiting our Composers’ Hub, which brings together opportunities, awards, funding and bursary information, interviews with composers, and more.
Royal Holloway, University of London is launching a composition competition for young composers. The winners of this competition will have their pieces screened as part of our Film Music programme at Royal Holloway and have the opportunity for individual feedback from our expert composers.
Applications are currently open until 26 April 2026
Chamber Choir Ireland offer a youth composition programme which gives secondary school students across Ireland the opportunity to create their own piece of choral music.
Applications are now open until 24 April 2026
The aim of the ORA Singers Young Composers’ scheme is to nurture and develop a new generation of choral composers by providing educational mentoring and opportunities. The programme is aimed at under 18s from UK state-schools, selecting those who would benefit from the mentoring programme and demonstrate a real flair and passion for composition.
This is a fabulous opportunity for young composers at the Elgar Festival (based in Worcester) to have their music played at next year’s festival in May; perfect for students studying GCSE or A Level music or for any young entrepreneurial composers out there!
The BBC Young Composer Competition is open to 12-18 year olds across the UK who create their own original music. Winners participate in a tailored development programme working with a mentor composer on a project with the BBC Concert Orchestra, culminating in a performance or broadcast opportunity.
The National Centre for Early Music and BBC Radio 3 invite you to write a new piece for leading Renaissance ensemble The Gonzaga Band.
Sound and Music brings together 50 young music creators (aged 14-18) from across the UK for a week-long residential at the University of Huddersfield where they will create, record and perform their own original new music and access a wealth of workshops, learning sessions and career development.
This free course at Royal College of Music is for instrumentalists, singers, composers or song-writers from any musical background with an open attitude to collaboration and inventing music (of all styles) alongside others. All participants must be in school years 9 and 10 (ages 13-15) and meet one of the RCM Sparks eligibility criteria.
Guildhall offer 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. Fee per term: £525
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group offer an exciting opportunity for young people in Years 10-13 to compose guided by the expert knowledge of professional composer David Horne from Royal Northern College of Music and BCMG musicians. Participants will spend the day learning techniques, gaining ideas, and trying new things out with a focus on composing for the BCMG musicians.
Academy Clubs are packed with opportunities for state-educated secondary school pupils to study with Royal Academy of Music teachers and students over a series of weekends. Whilst participants do need to be nominated, these free workshops have been designed to increase access to the Academy's high-quality teaching, providing an opportunity for students to find out more about conservatoire study at junior and degree level.
Matthew Elderton-Lewis is an early career composer whose infectiously passionate personality and musical talent continues to emerge on both concert and multimedia stages across the United Kingdom and in the United States, composing for the likes of Britten Sinfonia, Essex Symphony Orchestra and Trilogy Ensemble as well for award-winning short films. Having not come from a musical background, he is determined to fight the ‘classical music’ stigma, offering a hand of reassurance to audiences who would otherwise be hesitant to discover new music.