What can NMC do for Composers?

You might be: 

• studying music or composition at school or university.
• interested in learning more about composition and/or new music.
• a teacher looking for resources for students.
• an adult amateur or professional musician, who is interested in composing for the first time.

You might be interested in our Education Resources which have been created for secondary school age learners, but can be used by anyone! They are all free to access and available via our website and Shop.

Our resources for those beginning to explore composition are:

• GCSE composition resource: a booklet which guides learners through different compositional aspects of 6 works by NMC composers, with listening and creative tasks.
• Exhibition resource: 5 short videos and accompanying worksheets which guide learners to engage with and research works from the NMC catalogue.
• r:strng: a free online app and accompanying lesson plan PDF, which enables learners to experiment with remixing music by composer Kate Whitley.

You might also be interested in our Music Map, which connects composers from the NMC catalogue and beyond based on style, influences, and other factors.

You might be:

• Writing pieces which are being performed / recorded by your friends.
• Studying music or composition at a university or conservatoire, or recently finished your studies.
• Interested in opportunities to get your music heard more widely.
• Looking to take steps towards composing professionally.

What can NMC do for you?

NMC partners with several organisations to create professional development opportunities for emerging composers. At the moment, those opportunities are:

• Philharmonia Composers’ Academy: an opportunity to write a 10 minute piece for an ensemble of Philharmonia players, with a year of mentorship and professional development, culminating in a premiere in a Music of Today concert at Royal Festival Hall and a digital release on NMC Recordings.
• NYCGB Young Composers: an opportunity to work with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain over the course of a year, to write and record new works for a range of their ensembles, alongside mentorship, professional development, and the opportunity for publication.

Beyond NMC, we can recommend Sound and Music as a resource to find other opportunities for emerging, early career composers, or composers looking for further professional opportunities.

The ISM also have resources for composers here.

You might:

• Be a composer who has already received commissions, residencies, or teaching posts.
• Have a substantial body of work already, some of which has already been professionally recorded or broadcast.
• Be looking to further establish yourself on the national and international stage.

What can NMC do for you?

NMC’s Debut Disc series is a bespoke opportunity for exceptional composers who are early in their careers, for whom a portrait disc of their music would be a transformative opportunity which would accelerate their career. Composers are eligible for a Debut Disc if they have a proven track record of professional work, have 60-75 minutes of music which would make a high quality album, and don’t yet have a full album of their music available commercially.

You can look at our past output of Debut Discs here.

There are very limited opportunities for Debut Discs as they involve substantial NMC funding and resources. However, if you think that Debut Discs might be right for you, please get in touch with Ellie Wilson, our Creative Director, eleanor@nmcrec.co.uk, or submit an album proposal for a Debut Disc (see below).

ISM early career membership

The ISM, one of NMC's partners, is the UK’s professional body for musicians. If you are within the first ten years of your music career, you can join for just £50 a year (70% off the full membership rate).

Membership offers you: 

• one-to-one legal assistance
• public liability insurance
• template contracts and invoices
• online advice
• networking and promotional opportunities
• discounted instrument and equipment insurance
• physiotherapy and counselling support
• exclusive discounts
• and much more

Join the ISM online, call 020 7221 3499, or email membership@ism.org.

You might be a composer who:

• Has a range of commissioned works already under your belt.
• Has some works already recorded to professional album standard.
• Has a close working relationship with a particular ensemble, performer, promoted, or venue. 

What can NMC do for you?

You might want to propose a recording to us. You can find out more information about what this would entail here.

You might: 

• Have an established professional working relationship with a composer. 
• Have commissioned works for yourself or others to perform. 
• Have a track record of performing contemporary music. 
• Have a repertoire of new or recent works which you think would make a good release on NMC. 

What can NMC do for you?

You might want to propose a recording to us. You can find out more information about what this would entail here.