Composers’ Workshop 2025

At the OPO, we are passionate about nurturing the next generation of musicians and providing unique opportunities for emerging talent.

On 22 April, we hosted our annual Composers’ Workshop at St John the Evangelist Church, part of our work as Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford.

This special event gives ten University of Oxford music students the chance to hear their original compositions performed live by the OPO, under the baton of Professor John Traill.

Each composer had 25 minutes with the orchestra to hear their piece brought to life and to receive direct, professional feedback from our musicians. This invaluable experience offers insights into the practicalities of orchestral writing and helps these young composers refine their craft for their future careers.

“I think it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, especially as a budding composer and it made me feel a lot more confident.“

This year’s workshop revealed an exciting mix of musical styles. Some students embraced the orchestral tradition, with one piece even quoting Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring — a bold nod to the symphonic greats.

At the same time, other composers pushed beyond traditional boundaries. Hawthorn Blossom by Tom Bruges, for example, challenged the very idea of what an orchestral performance could be. Instead of focusing on instrumental playing, it featured spoken word, theatrical interaction between musicians — such as turning each other’s pages or tearing pages from scores — and sections of free improvisation.

The workshop offered students the invaluable opportunity to explore the full spectrum of contemporary composition, and to receive feedback from professional musicians experienced across a wide range of styles and practices.

The Orchestra wishes to acknowledge the incredible support of The Michael Marks Charitable Trust in delivering our annual Composers’ Workshop. The support of the Trust is vital in helping the OPO to foster the next generation of musical talent in Oxfordshire and beyond. 

You can learn more about all our University Residency projects here.

“It was an exceptional opportunity to workshop my piece with such a professional orchestra. As a student, it is so rare to write a piece for such large forces and to be given meaningful time to workshop and test it. The orchestra showed great enthusiasm for my (somewhat unconventional) score, with a lot of feedback and suggestions to take away. This has made a substantial contribution to my progress as a student composer.“

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