We are excited to announce that we are seeking an Ensemble in Residence to join us for the 2026 In the Making summer residential.
If you are a group of high-quality musicians passionate about supporting young creators and shaping the future of new music in the UK, read on below.
Ensemble in Residence at In the Making 2026
The Ensemble in Residence will work closely with our cohort of 50 young composers and music creators aged 14–18 during a week-long residential at the University of Huddersfield from Sunday 26 to Friday 31 July 2026.
In the Making is a 12-month artist development programme. During the residential, participants work intensively with tutors and musicians to create new works that are recorded and performed, alongside workshops, an Opportunities Fair and sessions with composers and creators from our In Motion programme.
The role of the Ensemble in Residence includes:
Supporting development of new work
- Working with Key Tutors to support 50 young composers and creators, rotating between four groups
- Workshopping and performing pieces across a range of styles, offering creative and practical input
- Working creatively with participants making electronic music (e.g. recording samples)
- Contributing to an inclusive and creative atmosphere throughout the residential
Recording and performance
- Recording and performing student works at the end-of-week showcase
- Potentially delivering one evening workshop or performance in collaboration with the Sound and Music team
- Recording a set of educational video resources
We are open to hearing your ideas about what you would like to bring to the programme.
What we are looking for
We welcome applications from ensembles of any instrumentation or line-up. We are particularly interested in hearing from musicians at an earlier or pivotal stage of their professional or creative development.
The Ensemble in Residence should demonstrate:
- Ability to work flexibly and creatively across different styles, forms, methods and notations
- Confidence working with works-in-progress and emerging ideas
- A genuine commitment to supporting young creators
- Commitment to safeguarding and wellbeing
We will offer:
- Total fee of £6,000 (inclusive of VAT)
- Accommodation in Huddersfield and catering/per diem
- Travel expenses within the UK
Individual players will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check (paid for by Sound and Music) and must commit to the full residential period. We cannot accommodate deps without at least two months’ notice.
Application Details:
- Application deadline: Wednesday 11 March 2026
- Residential dates: Sunday 26 – Friday 31 July 2026
How to apply
To express interest, please submit your proposal via our online form.
You will need to include:
- At least two recordings (audio/video) or an online portfolio
- A list of players and instrumentation
- A short bio for the ensemble and/or players
- Links to website and/or social media
- A short proposal (max. 500 words) outlining:
- Why you would like to take part at this stage of your development
- What you can bring to the programme
- Relevant experience in educational, community or new music contexts
Application deadline: Wednesday 11 March 2026
Contact us
If you have any questions about In the Making or the role of the Ensemble in Residence, please contact Clare Spollen, Creative Programme Leader (Young People): clare.spollen@soundandmusic.org
About In the Making
In the Making is the UK’s only year-long artist development programme for young music creators aged 14–18.
Each year, 50 young creators with a passion for music come together from all over the UK for an unforgettable summer residential, followed by a flexible 12-month programme of online creative development, mentoring, peer support, progression pathways and careers support.
In the Making is for all young people and all types of music — beats, songs, sound art, classical, experimental, electronic, and everything in-between.
We’ve been running programmes for young music creators for 18 years and helped launch the creative journeys of 1000s of young musicians across the UK.
Learn more about In the Making
About us
Our mission is to be the base camp for anyone in the UK who wants to make, experience or support new music and sound to shape the modern world.
We deliver artist-centred development programmes and essential funding to young, emerging and established artists breaking new ground across music-making in the UK. We lead research, campaigns, networks, archives and collections to further originality, discovery and equity within music.
For over 15 years, we have worked with thousands of music creators and hundreds of organisations to boost musical creativity, careers, cultures and communities.
Reducing barriers and championing inclusion underpins everything we do, driven by our sector-leading Fair Access Principles.
Sound and Music is supported by Arts Council England and proud to be a National Youth Music Organisation.