Composer mentoring project creates new music for amateur ensembles
A partnership between the University of Southampton and Contemporary Music for All (CoMA) is helping amateur composers to create and bring new music to life.
CoMA Bespoke aims to nurture new composing talent and explore the idea of tailoring music to specific ensembles comprised of unusual combinations of instruments. These include a group with flutes, clarinets, violin, viola, piano, guitar and tuba, and another where the musicians play kazoos, protest horns and toy instruments.
With ensembles around the UK and beyond, CoMA is a participatory new music charity, fostering a culture of musical creativity and inclusive collaboration. CoMA Bespoke culminates in a celebratory concert on 14 June in London where 15 original works will premiere.
Composer and Professor at the University of Southampton, Matthew Shlomowitz , is mentoring three emerging composers who have each been partnered with a CoMA ensemble: Uri Agnon with CoMA East Midlands, Fraz Ireland with CoMA London, and Franklyn Oliver with CoMA Sussex. Uri, Fraz, and Franklyn are composing a new work for their respective ensembles, while also collaborating with ensemble members to inspire and support them in creating their own original pieces written especially for their groups.
Working with Matthew Shlomowitz, the trio has developed an innovative approach to support ensemble musicians in composing their own pieces. They’ve created a booklet of ‘prompts’ designed to guide new composers through the creative process. Rather than serving as a step-by-step manual, the prompts address practical aspects of composition while encouraging exploration of aesthetic ideas — broadening creative perspectives and expanding the range of artistic possibilities.
Matthew Shlomowitz comments: “This project is all about widening participation in music creation, getting amateur musicians composing. Our booklet of compositional prompts provides ways of thinking about beginnings, structure, notation, audience-text, surprise, and with engaging political ideas.”
This project extends the ‘ Music for Cohabitors ’ project Matthew began during the pandemic, where he responded to lockdowns by writing pieces for households on request, tailored to the specific instruments, skills and stylistic interests in each home ‘bubble’. CoMA Bespoke further explores the idea of composing music for specific groups of musicians while also involving them in the composition process.
Matthew says: “The ensembles in CoMA Bespoke are instrumentally diverse and the different types of musicians involved will undoubtedly influence the composition of all the pieces. It’s really exciting to be part of the evolution of these works, I’m sure the concert will make for a fabulous experience.”
CoMA Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director, Tamara Kohler adds: “CoMA Bespoke has been a joy to host - we’ve watched so many of our long term music-makers discover new musical skills through their first compositional experiences. Creativity is boundless, no matter what age or experience level you are, and thanks to the inspiring leadership of Matthew, Uri, Fraz and Franklyn, we’re looking forward to presenting a suite of joyful, entertaining and adventurous new works, created and performed directly by the CoMA community.”
CoMA Bespoke is supported by a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation. Premieres will take place at CoMA Bespoke: Showcase from 2pm on Saturday 14 June 2025 at Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust, London.