The Composition Department provides both composers and composer-performers with the technical skills and broad understanding of musical styles necessary to formulate and express a distinct musical voice. In the 21st century new music can, more than at any other time in history, celebrate the diversity of musical styles and idioms, and one of our greatest strengths is our tutorial staff, whose wide-ranging stylistic specialities cover everything from progressive classical composition to film and commercial skills.
Developing your skills
Through your individual tuition you will develop an understanding of differing compositional styles, particularly contemporary art music; pop, jazz and fusion; experimental and world music; film and theatre music; and electroacoustic and studio-based composition. You will also receive a thorough grounding in composition-related technologies, although composers wishing to specialise in this area should see Music Technology. Your training will cover techniques of instrumentation, conducting, orchestration and polyphonic studies. A programme of masterclasses and seminars by distinguished composers, critics and performers will also form an important part of your development and you will have the chance to share ideas and discuss topical issues with your colleagues in group activities such as Compositional Studies and Composers’ Workshop.
From the outset, you will be encouraged to explore your ideas both within the context of genre, and using genre as a jumping-off point for the creation of new frameworks. The Conservatoire has long been recognised as the natural home of composers working across styles and throughout your development you will have the opportunity to experience a range of musical traditions and influences through a variety of performance electives covering classical music, jazz and world music. These electives will not only allow you to exercise your creativity, but also provide a vehicle for you to collaborate with performance students.
Our composition students also regularly work collaboratively with students from Birmingham School of Acting, Birmingham School of Media, the School of English and Birmingham Institute of Art and Design.
Performance opportunities
We attach great importance to the performance of student compositions and original works, including those incorporating new technologies.Regular workshops and concerts of student works are given by leading professional ensembles such as Decibel, Chroma and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group as well as by our own contemporary music group, the Thallein Ensemble and by the Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra. Public performance opportunities include various Conservatoire concert series, internal and external competitions, and our new music concert series, Frontiers and its associated Frontiers+ Festival.