Young composers join ABRSM scheme to widen access to music education

Six young composers have joined the pilot of an ABRSM scheme which aims to improve access and boost the variety of music in education.

The six-month pilot scheme aims to support composers from a wider range of communities and backgrounds, helping them better understand ABRSM’s specific technical requirements when it is commissioning music for education.

The pilot cohort includes composers Andrew Chen, Shruthi Rajasekar, Su Ting Han, Kemal Yusuf, Kristina Arakelyan and James B. Wilson. 

The exam board plans to make the mentoring pilot a regular annual programme, with growing numbers of composers with different experiences and from a range of backgrounds taking part as it develops.

ABRSM chief executive Chris Cobb said: 'The mentoring scheme is an incredibly exciting element of our work to promote music from a far greater range of communities.

'All six composers selected with help from our friends at The Ivors Academy for this year’s programme are extremely talented individuals in their own right.  

'We’re confident that the programme will help them on to the next stages of their careers and, in doing so, inspire an even richer and more exciting variety of music for us all to enjoy in the future.'

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