Music (Composition Pathway)

21st century music composition is a diverse and evolving practice, bringing together performers, an assortment of cultures and styles, and the latest technology. Our course will develop your skills as you navigate this exciting new world of composition.

Whether you’re interested in creating new works using the latest electroacoustic computer technology or more traditional instruments and voices, or exploring a combination of both, we’re here to support you to explore your unique abilities.

You’ll be based within our state-of-the-art Bramall Music Building, and you’ll also have access to our wide range of innovative rehearsal rooms and recording spaces in our University Music Hub.

Our programme provides you with a variety of exciting opportunities, including the option to write works for the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and take part in visiting performer workshops. Past guests have included percussionist Joby Burgess, who can be heard leading the percussion sections on the soundtracks of the Ant-Man and Black Panther franchises.

- Choose from our diverse study options, including modules ‘Music Employability’, and ‘British Music in Performance'.

- The Bramall Music Building is home to our acoustically flexible 450-seat Elgar Concert Hall, five electroacoustic studios, 17-seat computer cluster and the recently installed Yamaha DM7 digital mixing console.

- Use the skills you’ve developed to write your composition portfolio and enjoy listening to your work being performed by the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.

- Top 100 for Arts and Humanities in the world (QS University World Rankings 2024).