MAGNUM OPUS

Magnum Opus is a 12-month artist development programme for three UK-based early-career composers looking to further their skills in orchestral writing, to refine their compositional voice and to gain a deeper understanding of orchestral management. 

Throughout the programme, you will reflect on your practice, develop relationships with Britten Sinfonia musicians and receive mentoring from industry professionals and Programme Directors, Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Huw Watkins. You will have the opportunity to write a piece of chamber music and a chamber concerto to be performed by Britten Sinfonia across two concert programmes. 

You will receive a bursary to cover travel and accommodation expenses as well as the commissions delivered as part of the programme. You will work with Britten Sinfonia management to understand fully the production budget for each performance project. 

This is a focused scheme targeted towards individuals looking for a transformational experience working with an internationally renowned orchestra. 

We are looking for composers who predominately use Western notation and have some experience in writing for chamber ensembles and orchestras. You may have taken part in similar schemes before or studied composition in a higher education setting. However, you will be looking to build deeper relationships with professional musicians, establishing a clear compositional style and being receptive to feedback and mentoring from industry professionals on topics such as marketing and fundraising. 

We are looking to work with those who are keen to develop, not only as composers, but also as well-rounded creative individuals who will become part of the Britten Sinfonia team for the duration of their residency with us. We will encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and explore new contexts for your work, for example in community and school settings. Above all, you will embody the collaborative spirit for which Britten Sinfonia is known for. You will become an active member of the Opus composer community; attending networking events and Britten Sinfonia concerts, offering advice to Opus 1 composers, and being an advocate for the organisation at a national level. 

The scheme is tailored to each cohort and will involve a mixture of one-to-one and group support, mentoring, workshops, rehearsals and performances. 

After being welcomed onto the scheme in January, you will be invited to an introductory one-to-one with Programme Directors, Huw Watkins and Cheryl Frances-Hoad, so we can gain a better understanding of what you hope to learn throughout the year. You will also be assigned a mentor musician from the orchestra who you will be encouraged to connect with at regular points throughout the scheme. 

Chamber Work 

You will hit the ground running by writing a chamber work for woodwind sextet which will be premiered in a pre-concert launch event before 1945 - A Kind of Haunting on Tuesday 25 March 2025. 

You will have the opportunity to meet the Programme Directors for an online tutorial before the piece is workshopped with our musicians on Tuesday 11 February 2025.  

Chamber Concerto 

Following the launch concert, composers will work with the Programme Directors and administrative team at Britten Sinfonia to identify suitable soloists to write a 15' minute chamber concerto for performance at the Magnum Opus Showcase in London in November 2025. Previous soloists have included Emma Smith (Jazz Vocalist), Ryan Corbett (Accordion), Sean Shibe (Guitar) and Rakhi Singh (Violin). 

You will be encouraged to work collaboratively with your soloist, attending R&D sessions to understand the capabilities of the instrument and testing ideas throughout the process. You will receive ongoing mentoring from the Programme Directors and the piece will receive a workshop in September 2025.

Magnum Opus composers receive a bursary of £2,750 to include travel and accommodation expenses as well as the commissions delivered as part of the programme. The bursary will be paid in three parts throughout the scheme.

To be eligible for Magnum Opus you should:

• Be over 18 years old at the point of applying
• Not be in full or part-time education between January 2025 and November 2025. 
• Have been based in the UK for the last two years
• Plan to remain resident in the UK for the duration of the programme
• Provide two scores and either recordings of MIDI samples of your work
• Consider yourself to be actively pursuing composition as part of your career.
• You must be available to attend the first workshop on Tuesday 11 February 2025 and Magnum Opus Launch Concert on Tuesday 25 March 2025 in London. 

The application for Magnum Opus is in two stages. At the first stage, we will ask you to submit your personal information and briefly respond to a series of questions. We will also ask you to share two examples of your work by submitting scores and either recordings or MIDI versions from your existing portfolio. 

Following this, your application will be reviewed by two panelists from the following list and a long-list will be determined: 

• Cheryl Frances-Hoad - Composer 
• Chris Bell - Learning & Participation Director, Britten Sinfonia
• Dobrinka Tabakova - Composer
• Huw Watkins - Composer 
• Meurig Bowen - CEO & Artistic Director, Britten Sinfonia

Programme Directors, Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Huw Watkins, will then determine a shortlist of composers to be interviewed on Thursday 19 December. All composers will be informed of the outcome of their application before Monday 23 December. 

We are not using anonymised selection so that we can consider the diversity and backgrounds of applicants as well as identifying demographics we should be encouraging to apply in the future. Applications are reviewed at least twice to reduce unconscious bias. 

We understand that deadlines and application forms can present challenges for some applicants with access requirements. To reduce barriers, we will take requests for additional advice, video applications, and a deadline extension if appropriate.

If our application form is inaccessible to you due to disability, we can offer a bursary of up to £200 to pay for an access support worker to help you apply. Please email learning@brittensinfonia.com if you require the application form in an alternative format or you would like to apply for the access bursary.