In the Making is the UK's only year-long artist development programme for talented young music creators and composers aged 14–18. It supports those passionate about making music in any form and is open to all, regardless of instrument, musical interests, creative goals, background, or location.
The programme brings together 50 young music creators from across the UK for a week-long residential at the University of Huddersfield where they will create, record and perform their own original new music and access a wealth of workshops, learning sessions and career development.
They are guided by artists, top composers, industry professionals and tutors throughout the week and then during their subsequent 12-month virtual journey, transforming their composing and performing skills while building their confidence, experience, and creative ambition.
We are a National Youth Music Organisation and In the Making is made possible with the generous support of Arts Council England, Steinberg, Faber Music and Manners McDade, The Three Monkies Trust, The Patricia Routledge Foundation, John Thaw Foundation and The Hyne Trust.
Learn more about In the Making
Watch the In the Making 2024 Showcase
Applications open
Deadline: Sunday 13 April 2025 at 23:59 UTC
“The entire experience of In the Making has been just amazing. I now feel like I have a clear future in music and know what steps to take. I’ve discovered my own style and I feel more capable now. In the Making has given me the ambition to make it and I’m really grateful. This has been a great experience and opened a lot of doors.”Eva, In the Making Alumni
Who are we looking for?
To be eligible to apply you must be:
- Aged 14-18 by 19 July 2025
- In full-time education
- A UK resident
Whether you create in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), with a band or orchestra, use notation, improvise or are curious about experimenting with new ways of making sound, we want to support you to bring your creative ideas to life with the guidance of industry experts from a range of musical styles.
Do you:
- Love creating or writing your own music and sounds?
- Have ideas to shape new forms of music and sound?
- Want to be part of a growing network of amazing young creators?
- Want to receive guidance and tutoring from some of the UK’s most inspiring composition tutors and musicians?
- Want the opportunity to expand your portfolio?
- Want to hear your music performed, recorded, professionally mixed and played on radio?
Then In the Making is the perfect opportunity for you!
Applicants who have attended the In the Making residential or Sound and Music Summer School more than once before will automatically be placed on the waiting list and notified if a place becomes available.
Why In the Making is unique
In the Making draws on Sound and Music’s 16 years of learning and legacy delivering young artist development programmes for 1000s of young people, with 99% of 2024 participants saying they would recommend In the Making to their peers.
Participants benefit from:
- Increased creative skills, knowledge, and confidence
- Professional composition, recording, and performance experience
- Expanded portfolio for applications and opportunities
- Enhanced understanding of music career pathways
- Stronger ambition and progression opportunities
The unique 12-month programme plays an essential role in ensuring:
- More talented young music creators from diverse backgrounds across the UK participate in inclusive and inspiring talent development
- Talented young music creators realise their potential irrespective of geography, background or barriers
- More talented young music creators are inspired, informed and nurtured to progress into music careers
- A strong pipeline of diverse, original and exciting young composers and music creators shape new music in the UK
“In the Making gives young musicians the chance to let their creativity blossom. It’s an unmatched opportunity that just isn't available elsewhere and was one of the most incredible musical experiences I've ever had. In the Making is essential to the future of new music in the UK!”Billie, Alumni and In the Making Pastoral Support Staff
Fees and bursaries
In the Making is subsided through the generous support of our funders, partners and supporters.
As a result, the course participation fees you see below are significantly lower than the actual costs of delivering the programme, which are over £3,000 per participant.
We are proud to offer places at a reduced or no fee for participants from low-income households to ensure everyone can participate.
Standard Fee (Including Residential accommodation) - £836
The standard participation fee for In the Making is £836, and includes:
- All activities during the Residency Phase (27 July – 1 August 2025) and Development Phase (August 2025 – June 2026)
- Accommodation and full board for the Residency Phase
- Access to state-of-the-art production and recording facilities at Huddersfield University’s music building
- Expert tuition by acclaimed composers and tutors, such as Laura Bowler, Tony Nwachukwu, Eddie Dobson and David Horne
- Your works workshopped, performed and recorded by our ensemble-in-residence
- Career and industry sessions led by our partners, such as Steinberg
- Online workshops and support with continuing to develop your works over a year
- Pastoral staff training and support throughout the programme
Standard Fee (Without Residential accommodation) - £536
The fee for attending In the Making Residency Phase on a day-time basis is £536. This is only an option if you are a local resident and you want to attend our activities at Huddersfield University in the daytime and do not need overnight accommodation.
This includes all the activities as describe above, but only includes lunch and dinner and no accommodation during the Residency Phase. Please note parents/guardians will need to arrange for transport to and from the Residency Phase activities at the University of Huddersfield.
Bursaries
In line with our Fair Access Principles, we want to ensure all of our programmes are as inclusive and accessible to everyone and cost is not a barrier to participation.
We offer a means-tested bursary scheme, which can cover up to 100% of the fee and in some cases can also contribute to travel costs.
Our bursary scheme is made possible thanks to the generous support from Faber Music and Manners McDade, and the Susanna Eastburn Bursary Appeal.
If you would love to attend In the Making but cost is a barrier, please contact Grace Bailey (Grace.Bailey@SoundandMusic.org) to discuss options with our bursary scheme.
Access support
In line with our commitments to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and as the founder of the Fair Access Principles, we want to make our programmes and processes as inclusive as possible to as wide a range of applicants as we can.
If you would like to inquire about or arrange access support with applying to In the Making or have any question around accessibility, please contact Grace Bailey (Grace.Bailey@SoundandMusic.org).
Learn more about our access support
How do I apply?
Applications are open and the deadline to submit application is Sunday 13 April 2025 at 23:59 UTC.
In the application, we ask you about the personal and contact details of yourself and a parent/guardian who we will contact regarding your application outcome; any support you need with access, and we will ask you to submit our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. We will also ask why you want to join In the Making, your musical interests and influences, and some information about how you make music and sound.
As part of our commitment to access support, we offer alternative ways of applying. Please get in touch with Grace Bailey (Grace.Bailey@SoundandMusic.org) if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to the application process.
Have more questions?
You can learn more about In the Making on our programme details page, including the application process to have a clearer picture of what is involved for selected composers. You can also read our FAQs. For additional questions, please can contact our team (InTheMaking@SoundAndMusic.org).
Learn more about In the Making - Programme details
“This is the most amazing thing I've been involved in in my entire career – and probably the best opportunity these young musicians will ever have.” Eddie Dobson, In the Making Tutor
Thank you to our funders
Find out more
Our annual residential gives you the opportunity to explore your musical creativity. Whether you create in a Digital Audio Workstation, with a band, use notation, improvise or are curious about experimenting, we will support you to bring your ideas to life with the guidance of expert tutors, professional composers and musicians.
Our music labs offer insights into creating, producing and promoting your own music. They explore new ways of making music with some of the most exciting professional composers, artists and producers in the UK today. Each of these interactive lab sessions have been created with, and will be delivered by, young people.
Got a question about one of our programmes? Wondering what we mean by composer? How to apply? Or how you can support our work? Take a look over our answers to some of the questions we get asked the most.