In July, year 12 student Fionë Ziesche Pacarada joined the Sound and Music team for a week-long work experience placement.
In her blog, Fionë takes us through her placement day by day, capturing what it’s like to be part of our team. From new skills and tasks to moments of collaboration and reflection, she offers an insightful and thoughtful snapshot of how our placements unfold in practice. Her reflections show how our core values – being artist-centred, curious, agile and ambitious – come to life and how even a week’s placement can provide space to learn, explore and take on responsibility.
Monday 30 June 2025
This was my first day of my work experience placement at Sound and Music. The team were all really friendly and welcoming, and I learnt a lot about the impact and progress the charity has made even within the last year in terms of the knowledge people have about their work and the number of applications made to their programmes. I spent most of the afternoon beginning to curate my mixtape for Sound and Music’s Sampler Mixtape radio slot on Resonance FM. I have really enjoyed my experience here so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the week.
The Sampler Mixtape [#144] – Hosted by Fionë Ziesche Pacarada
Tuesday 1 July
This morning, I attended a Programmes Meeting and learnt more about the opportunity for Seed Awardees to participate in a programme with Sound and Music and the British Council. We reviewed the marking criteria for the applications for this programme and made sure that each point was as clear as possible. I also met with Finn, Temi, and Grace to discuss the role of the External Engagement Team and planned to create the draft for this month’s newsletter in the afternoon. After lunch, I met with Vanessa and Grace to discuss Sound and Music composer, Delyth Field, in preparation for a meeting with her the next day.
We thought about questions I could ask about her works and process, especially her time management, as I learnt that she is currently balancing a lot of projects. I spent the afternoon creating the draft for the July newsletter and also worked a bit on my mixtape, which has been really enjoyable, and I am trying to find ways to transition smoothly from different musical styles.
“I thoroughly enjoyed this placement, and I hope to be able to work here again in the future and remain in contact with the team here at Sound and Music.
This experience has brought many insights into the kind of career options I could pursue after studying composition at conservatoire and the team here have been incredibly welcoming.”
— Fionë Ziesche Pacarada
Wednesday 2 July
In the morning, I attended an External Engagement meeting. We planned when to finish and publish the newsletter, discussed plans for a Minute of Listening Event and I learnt about Key Progress Indicators (KPIs) and how Sound and Music are planning to collect the data for these regarding the creative freelancers that they often work with. In the afternoon, I researched Delyth Field, who I was meeting online near the end of the day. I read an interview, which was written by one of the Royal Philharmonic Society composers participating in a takeover on Sound and Music’s Sampler Mixtape.
It was amazing to see this connection between the different programmes of Sound and Music. I also watched her piece “Eternal Chandelier” and it really fascinated me how she managed to blend and play with the orchestral and electronic aspects of the composition, especially the video that was accompanying the work. It has definitely inspired me to experiment more with electronic music in the future.
During our meeting, we discussed topics such as her journey into composition, her process of combining the electronic and orchestral elements of her works and she also asked me about composing for my own instrument, the clarinet, and the extended techniques of instruments.
Thursday 3 July
At 11am, I attended an In the Making meeting to discuss the logistics of the summer residential at the University of Huddersfield. We talked about the people they were inviting to speak on a panel about studying at university or conservatoire, and I gave my own insight as to what I would find most useful if I attended the residential as a young composer. I also attended a Wellbeing Group Meeting, but I spent most of the day editing the transcript from my meeting with Delyth Field.
Learn more about In the Making
Friday 4 July
Today I completed the rest of my independent tasks for my work experience week. I finished the track list and recorded the intro and outro for the Sampler Mixtape, which will be released on Resonance FM in September. Additionally, I finished editing the transcript from my interview with Delyth Field and saw the July newsletter that I had put together, which was published yesterday evening.
In the afternoon, I compiled an Alumni Artist Event Brief about Chisara Agor, a New Voices alum, whose piece “Nocturnal Sun” is being performed on Sunday at the Southbank Centre as part of the New Music Biennial 2025. This is for the chair of Sound and Music, who is going to that performance, and may be used in the future for other events. I ended my placement with an exit interview to review and reflect on my week here at Sound and Music.
I thoroughly enjoyed this placement, and I hope to be able to work here again in the future and remain in contact with the team here at Sound and Music. This experience has brought many insights into the kind of career options I could pursue after studying composition at conservatoire and the team here have been incredibly welcoming.
Thank you so much for hosting me this past week.
Placements at Sound and Music
Placements at Sound and Music can range from a week’s work experience to a six month paid internship and are all built around our four core values: artist-centred, curious, agile and ambitious.
We see them not only as a way for individuals to learn and grow, but also as a chance for us to learn from their perspectives, energy and ideas. By creating an environment that is inclusive, collaborative and genuinely developmental, we hope to support the next generation of people shaping the future of new music.
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