RBC Sound Collective

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Sound Collective

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) Sound Collective is an exciting three-day summer programme for young people aged 14 to 18, taking place at RBC on 5, 12 and 19 August 2026. This summer programme offers a fun, creative space for teenagers to explore music and sound in direct collaboration with inspiring professional musicians.

We warmly welcome participants from all backgrounds. This includes musicians rooted in classical, electronic or other musical traditions, as well as those who are entirely new to creating music and sound.

Incredible Artist Line-Up

We are thrilled to be working with an exceptional team of professionals this summer:

• The brilliant Pace Music Duo
• A trio made up of the renowned flautist Rowland Sutherland, dynamic cellist David Kadumukasa and acclaimed clarinettist Vicky Wright
• RBC composition lecturer Benjamin Tassie, who will lead sessions on composing with electronics
• What to Expect

Across the three days, participants will dive into a rich mix of creative and technical sessions:

• Composing for ensembles
• Creative experimentation
• Songwriting and beat-making
• Improvisation and sound design
• Ensemble-based learning and collaborative performance
• Technical workshops for acoustic instruments and electronics
• Working side-by-side with professional musicians and composers
• Real-time opportunities to have work rehearsed and shared live
• Who Can Apply?

No prior composition experience is needed to join us. We want to engage young people based purely on their curiosity and willingness to explore. It does not matter what your previous access to music education has been, what instrument you play, or how familiar you are with musical notation or technology. Participants are highly encouraged to bring along their musical interests and instruments.

All sessions are completely free of charge, though participants will need to organise their own travel to and from the Conservatoire.

Email: composition@bcu.ac.uk