The Adopt-a-Composer scheme pairs an amateur music group with an emerging composer, and over the following year the partnership will collaborate to produce a new work especially for the group to premiere. It’s a unique opportunity for amateur musicians to work directly with a composer, be actively involved in the creative process, and discover new music, while the composer has a chance to form a close working relationship not always possible in professional commissions, responding to a group’s personality and interests.

The scheme is funded by the PRS Foundation and run by Sound and Music and Making Music. Sound and Music is the UK’s landmark agency for new music and sound. Its Shortlist programme, which began in 1943, selects the best emerging composers in the country each year and offers them promotion and professional development opportunities. All the composers participating in Adopt- a-Composer are from our Shortlist. Making Music brings the groups to the scheme, as the largest umbrella body representing and supporting amateur and semi-professional music groups of all genres throughout the UK.  They provide artistic and administrative services, and development and training opportunities.

Since it began in 2000, Adopt-a-Composer has created  46 partnerships and produced hugely diverse works and performances in the process, from choral settings of William Blake poems to a piece of short movements inspired by a box of chocolates! We look forward to hearing more wonderful and unique work over the coming year.