MusM Composition (Instrumental and Vocal music)

You will need to submit scores (preferably as PDF files) of two or three recent compositions, for a variety of forces or dealing with a variety of musical contexts if possible, and if available, links to recordings of performances of these works.

You can upload the portfolio under the 'CV/Resume' option in the Supporting Documents section at the end of the application form.

Our MusM Composition (Instrumental and Vocal) master's course offers intensive training for composers. We offer an invaluable opportunity for composers to hone their skills and develop their personal voice, through an outstanding programme of workshops with leading professional musicians. These opportunities provide excellent preparation for careers in the professional world, or for subsequent doctoral study.

You will benefit from:

• Teaching that embraces creative flexibility allowing you to develop your own compositional interests;
• professional ensembles workshopping your compositions;
• integration into the active research culture of The University of Manchester, through research seminars, workshops and concerts.

We aim to:

• enable you to develop compositional techniques and professional skills appropriate to your creative needs;
• give you practical experiences working with students and professional musicians to hone your practical skills;
• help you develop an awareness of aesthetic, analytical and technical issues relating to contemporary Western art music, and apply these to your composition;
• equip you with skills and experiences that will help you in your future careers, or in further study at PhD level.
  

Ensembles

Every year, we offer opportunities to write for outstanding professional ensembles and soloists.

Our string quartet in residence the Quatuor Danel enjoys a huge international reputation and their repertoire seemingly knows no limits.

Our contemporary ensemble in residence, Tangram , seamlessly combine eastern and western musical cultures through their repertoire.

Opportunities are also offered to write pieces to be workshopped by groups performing in our Thursday lunchtime concert series , and to write for other ensembles and soloists with whom we enjoy close relationships, including musicians from Distractfold, the Hallé Orchestra, Trio Atem, Manchester Camerata and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

NOVARS and MANTIS

Postgraduate students who are also interested in electroacoustic composition play an active role at the NOVARS Research Centre, including planning, organisation and execution of performance events such as the Sines & Squares Festival and MANTIS Festival, and other projects such as LocativeAudio.

Relevant training, including rigging and de-rigging the MANTIS system, health and safety, sound diffusion workshops, and organisation of Calls for Works when needed, is an important part of the course.

Performance

Our Music department is extremely active in putting on student-run live events, and is unique in its combination of academic excellence and conservatoire levels of performance. Watch examples of our previous performances by visiting the Music department YouTube channel.

MusM composers are strongly encouraged to collaborate with, and write for other students in the department, including those on the MusM Music (Performance Studies) .

Taught course units are delivered mostly via weekly seminars and/or tutorials. All of the courses, including the composition portfolio, are supported by a mix of group and individual supervisions, allowing for in-depth exploration of ideas and intensive support for the various course units offered.

Alongside your taught units, you will have access to a range of non-assessed seminars, workshops and training sessions offered by the Graduate School.

You are also expected to attend regular concerts, composition workshops and research seminars throughout the academic year.

There are no formal examinations. Taught course units - all of which must be satisfactorily completed - are assessed by submission of compositions, coursework essays or other tasks, normally submitted at the end of each semester (January and May).

The Composition Portfolio is created over the entire duration of study and is submitted at the end of the academic year (after the summer vacation). All work is moderated both internally and by the External Examiner.

The Martin Harris Centre offers students an exceptional home equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a new practice room building named for our first music graduate Marian Millar.

Alongside teaching rooms and practice rooms, the building houses the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall (capacity 350, with a stage large enough to accommodate a full symphony orchestra), the John Thaw Studio Theatre and a postgraduate suite consisting of a common room and computer room.

For those interested in Electroacoustic Composition, the NOVARS studio complex supports a broad range of activities in the fields of electroacoustic composition and new media.

Elsewhere on campus, all students benefit from the outstanding University of Manchester library and the John Rylands Library (housing the British Pop Archives), as well as dedicated postgraduate study spaces within the Ellen Wilkinson Building.

Find out more about our facilities .

Our graduates have pursued successful careers in musical and non-musical fields.

Some continue to further study via a PhD before securing an academic position.

Some go on to teach in schools or further education, both in the UK and overseas. 

Other graduates have gone on to work in fields which advanced compositional training has been directly relevant such as: music producing, music composition, audio production, recording studios, entrepreneurships, the creative industries, music publishing, music journalism and performance. 

Careers outside of music have included computer programming, theatre, accountancy, law, social work and human resources. 

The University has its own dedicated  Careers Service  that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of  opportunities to help boost your employability