Develop your individual style and musical personality with a rich schedule of project-based work

Our collaborative degree courses offer opportunities for performance and recording in a wide range of contexts.

'I chose the Academy for its unrivalled opportunities, including weekly one-to-one composition lessons with such respected composers as David Sawer, Edmund Finnis and Gary Carpenter'
Postgraduate student

Our undergraduate course is shaped to give you a strong foundation in compositional technique, whether your interests lie in writing for concert, media and film, staged productions or electronic music.

At postgraduate level, our demanding courses comprise a full schedule of project work, including workshops, performances and recordings of student compositions. Over the past year, the Composition Department has staged at least 20 concerts of new works, both inside and outside the Academy.

Courses are taught by dedicated teachers and active composers who are engaged in a broad range of compositional activities.

Headshot of composer James B Wilson
Headshot of composer James B Wilson

James B. Wilson

Headshot of composer James B Wilson

James B. Wilson

Graduated 2012

James B. Wilson

Graduated 2012

Meet
our alunni

Roxanna Panufnik Headshot
Roxanna Panufnik Headshot

Roxanna Panufnik

Roxanna Panufnik Headshot

Roxanna Panufnik

Graduated 1989
Composition

Roxanna Panufnik

Graduated 1989

Composition

Photo of composer Max Richter
Photo of composer Max Richter

Max Richter

Photo of composer Max Richter

Max Richter

Graduated 1989
Composition

Max Richter

Graduated 1989

Composition

Headshot of composer Laura Bowler
Headshot of composer Laura Bowler

Laura Bowler

Headshot of composer Laura Bowler

Laura Bowler

Graduated 2015
Composition

Laura Bowler

Graduated 2015

Composition

Karl Jenkins Headshot
Karl Jenkins Headshot

Sir Karl Jenkins

Karl Jenkins Headshot

Sir Karl Jenkins

Graduated 1967
Composition

Sir Karl Jenkins

Graduated 1967

Composition

Photo of composer Freya Waley Cohen
Photo of composer Freya Waley Cohen

Freya Waley-Cohen

Photo of composer Freya Waley Cohen

Freya Waley-Cohen

Graduated 2021
Composition

Freya Waley-Cohen

Graduated 2021

Composition

Find out more about the career paths of some of our former students

Meet our alumni
Headshot of composer James B Wilson
Headshot of composer James B Wilson

James B. Wilson

Headshot of composer James B Wilson

James B. Wilson

Graduated 2012

James B. Wilson

Graduated 2012

Roxanna Panufnik Headshot
Roxanna Panufnik Headshot

Roxanna Panufnik

Roxanna Panufnik Headshot

Roxanna Panufnik

Graduated 1989
Composition

Roxanna Panufnik

Graduated 1989

Composition

Photo of composer Max Richter
Photo of composer Max Richter

Max Richter

Photo of composer Max Richter

Max Richter

Graduated 1989
Composition

Max Richter

Graduated 1989

Composition

Headshot of composer Laura Bowler
Headshot of composer Laura Bowler

Laura Bowler

Headshot of composer Laura Bowler

Laura Bowler

Graduated 2015
Composition

Laura Bowler

Graduated 2015

Composition

Karl Jenkins Headshot
Karl Jenkins Headshot

Sir Karl Jenkins

Karl Jenkins Headshot

Sir Karl Jenkins

Graduated 1967
Composition

Sir Karl Jenkins

Graduated 1967

Composition

Photo of composer Freya Waley Cohen
Photo of composer Freya Waley Cohen

Freya Waley-Cohen

Photo of composer Freya Waley Cohen

Freya Waley-Cohen

Graduated 2021
Composition

Freya Waley-Cohen

Graduated 2021

Composition