New Voices was our artist development programme which supported composers at pivotal stages of their careers to explore new ideas, new sounds and new music.
Between 2018 and 2022, we supported 47 composers over several 18-month programmes with coaching, mentoring and a financial grant to create a new piece of work and share it with audiences. Each project was unique from composer to composer and year to year, producing a truly eclectic and genre-spanning portfolio of works.
New Voices provided a unique opportunity for composers to take essential time to explore and develop their work, and the positive, composer-led impact of this fed directly into the development of In Motion, our new flagship artist development programme for 2023.
New Voices was supported using public funding by Arts Council England, and by the following funders, with thanks: Garfield Weston, Vaughan Williams Foundation, The London Community Foundation Cockayne Grant, Esmée Fairbairn Trust and the Garrick Club Charitable Trust, and PRS Foundation as a Talent Development Partner.
Successful applicants were enrolled on an 18-month programme, receiving an artist grant, a production grant, access to coaching and mentoring, and one to one support with an allocated Creative Project Leader.
Composers spent the first six months in the Discovery Phase exploring ideas and developing their work. This was followed by 12 months of the Activity Phase, where composers delivered and realised the project they had envisioned.
"Each stage of this project represented a step forward for me: the extended length of the programme enabled me to conduct preliminary research in greater depth than previously possible, uncovering new lines of inquiry to pursue in my work. Working with Plus-Minus Ensemble was a unique and extremely positive experience. This amounted to a significant learning opportunity the likes of which I have not previously had access to."
Meet the composers
Romarna Campbell, Jelly Cleaver, Holysseus Fly, Sonia Allori, Lou Barnell, Lucy Duncombe, and Nneka Cummins.
Yohan Kebede, Chisara Agor, Gwen Siôn, illyr, Ben Nobuto, Jennifer Wrigley, Rylan Gleave and Jaka Škapin.
Alice Boyd, Georgia Denham, Tamsin Elliott, Cassandra Gurling, Elijah Maja, Frazer Merrick, Shirley Tetteh and Melanie Wilson.
Lisa Busby, Mella Faye, Jamie Hamilton, Sharon Gal, Emily Levy, Marv Radio, Max Syedtollan and Otto Willberg.
Vicki Bennett, Stuart Brown, Bex Burch, David Austin Grey, Alex Ho, Edmund Hunt, Johnny Hunter, Andy Ingamells, Liz Dilnot Johnson, Marcus Joseph, Eunseog Lee, Daniel McBride, Eska Mtungwazi, Supriya Nagarajan and Gugak Sounds.
Featured composer
See also
An 18-month artist development programme supporting anyone working with music and sound to innovate fundamental breakthroughs in the way they make work and sustain their career.
All applicants to our In Motion programme who have been shortlisted and interviewed are awarded a targeted package of support, including coaching sessions and a small grant.
Read about our programmes past and present to find out more about we support anyone who makes music and sound to sustain their careers and progress their creativity.