Sound and Music and British Council partner to build global bridges through new music collaborations

We are proud to announce a new partnership with the British Council to deliver an international New Music Commissioning Programme: 2025/26, as part of the British Council’s Culture Connects Programme. This creative and cultural exchange initiative will pair three original music creators from the UK with peers from Official Development Assistance (ODA) partner countries to collaboratively compose and share new music that responds to our shared human experience.

Sam Hayden reflects on representing the UK at 2025 ISCM World New Music Days

We’re delighted to share a new blog post from composer Sam Hayden, who was selected to represent the UK at the 2025 ISCM World New Music Days Festival—hosted this year in Portugal by the International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM) and Miso Music Portugal. Sam’s work Die Abkehr, composed for large ensemble, was chosen from the ISCM British Section shortlist and performed at the São Luiz Teatro Municipal in Lisbon as part of a wide-ranging programme of global contemporary music.

Alumni Spotlight: Rylan Gleave

In our Alumni Spotlight series, we highlight the bold and diverse practices of artists who have taken part in our programmes. This month, we’re shining a light on Rylan Gleave, a genre-defying composer and vocalist who joined our New Voices programme in 2021. He works in experimental and divergent fields, merging classical craft with an experimental edge. From orchestral commissions to jazz-punk and dark folk, Rylan’s boundary-crossing music is rooted in live performance, collaboration and a deep commitment to inclusivity.

Owen Shiers: In Motion — On composing and the creative process

We’re excited to share a new artist reflection from In Motion 2024 artist, Owen Shiers — the Ceredigion-born composer, producer and performer behind the acclaimed ‘Cynefin’ project — whose latest release ‘Shrimli’ was hailed by The Guardian as “a quietly political antidote to the modern age” (★★★★ / Folk Album of the Month). 

The Sampler Mixtape — RPS Takeover begins 6 June

We’re thrilled to announce the next Sampler Mixtape takeover, celebrating the 2025 Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Composers. Across seven weeks (Starting June 6 2025), each composer will host a one-hour show on Resonance FM, sharing extracts of their own work alongside music that has inspired them.

Sound and Music announces new In Motion 2025 cohort

Sound and Music is thrilled to announce the second-ever cohort of our flagship artist development programme, In Motion—welcoming 10 bold and boundary-pushing composers and music creators from across the UK … Read More