Six talented young composers this month join the pilot of an ABRSM scheme which will support a new generation of musicians by opening up the world of music education and ultimately boost the variety of music available to everyone.

The six-month pilot scheme aims to support composers from a wider range of communities and backgrounds, helping them better understand ABRSM’s specific technical requirements when it is commissioning music for education.

The pilot cohort, selected with help from The Ivors Academy, includes composers Andrew Chen, Shruthi Rajasekar, Su Ting Han, Kemal Yusuf, Kristina Arakelyan and James B. Wilson.

Composer Andrew Chen said: “To date, my way into music education has been just as a recipient or facilitator in a very narrow sense. This programme represents something much more wide-ranging and integrated – not just writing pieces but seeing how that links back to the entire industry. It’s really exciting.”

ABRSM plans to make the mentoring pilot a regular annual programme, with growing numbers of composers with different experiences and from a range of backgrounds taking part as it develops.

ABRSM Chief Executive Chris Cobb said: “The mentoring scheme is an incredibly exciting element of our work to promote music from a far greater range of communities.

“All six composers selected with help from our friends at The Ivors Academy for this year’s programme are extremely talented individuals in their own right.

“We’re confident that the programme will help them on to the next stages of their careers and, in doing so, inspire an even richer and more exciting variety of music for us all to enjoy in the future.”

Composer Sarah Watts and teacher and educator and performer Andy Grappy will oversee the programme, giving participants chance to learn more about ABRSM, get to grips with its music education brief, meet colleagues across the organisation and amongst our network of partners and complete a series of commission tasks.

Crispin Hunt, Chair of The Ivors Academy said: ”To inspire the next generation of artists and creators the music they experience through education must be as diverse, varied and thought-provoking as possible. We’re delighted to support this amazing cohort of composers by accelerating their careers in music education and hope to support many more music creators this way in the future.”