WeCompose: helping keep music alive in schools since 2022

1 Dec 2025

“The project lit a fire in our students, they were inspired by the opening concert and couldn’t wait to get started. Meeting our composer helped them see a real career as a musician and gave so much value and insight.” Teacher 

In 2022-23, Music in the Round started a new project in secondary schools called WeCompose.

Over the last few years, it has been making an impact on the lives of thousands of young people across the country, aiming to change how composition is taught in secondary schools and reinvigorating the subject to inspire a new generation of music makers. We are already seeing more students choosing to take GCSE music in participating schools. 

Last year was our biggest yet, engaging:

• 11 composers 
• 34 schools
• 830 young people

We engaged students in Barking & Dagenham, Barnsley, Doncaster, East Riding of Yorkshire, Middlesborough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Rotherham, Sheffield and Wakefield.   

The Project

WeCompose begins with students attending an introductory concert played by world class performers, at which the project is introduced to both students and teaching staff.

Each school is then matched with a professional composer, who visits the school three times to support the development of the students’ music through workshops. They also support the teachers, providing them with enhanced skills and confidence for teaching composition beyond the life of the project.

WeCompose concludes with a culmination day, where students work with their composer to workshop their music with a professional ensemble. Their music is then performed and recorded, providing a lasting memento of the project as well as a submission for those studying GCSE Music. 

You can listen to a selection of recorded highlights from the 24-25 project here.

Watch this short video about the WeCompose project to hear more from one of the teachers involved in the project already.

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for our students that will never be forgotten! The quartet were extremely professional, enthusiastic and encouraging to all our students and made them feel at ease. All our students were buzzing on the way back!” Teacher 

“I found this entire experience very informative, and exciting as well. We learned about new techniques on string instruments and got to interact with actual live players. The composing was also fun, and […] it was my first time hearing strings live.” Student 

“Quite a few of our year 8 cohort have selected [GCSE] music after taking part.” Teacher 

You can read more about our other projects we do in schools here. 

We are very proud of this huge, nationwide project.

It has only been possible thanks to the support of our funders including the Friends of Music in the Round, and those who gave to our Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023. 

What’s Next?

In 2026 we want to expand this amazing project into primary schools, aiming to ignite a similar passion for music-making in young people aged 7 to 11 to help them find their creative voice.
As part of this work, we plan to showcase some of the pupils’ music in a performance as part of Sheffield Chamber Music Festival 2026.