Are you aged 13–18 and interested in creating your own music?
Go Compose! is a three-day composition workshop for young people who have tried composing and would like to develop their skills, explore new ideas and work alongside professional musicians and composers.
Run in partnership with Red Note Ensemble, Go Compose! gives participants the opportunity to work with professional composers Fergus Hall and Gillian Walker, alongside three musicians from Red Note Ensemble. Over the three days, you’ll create your own original piece of music for flute, trombone and guitar, hear your ideas brought to life by professional performers and develop your work through practical workshops and feedback.
The course finishes with a performance of the new pieces on the final day.
Who is it for?
Go Compose! is open to young people aged 13–18 who have tried composing before and would like to learn more.
You don’t need to be an experienced composer. We’re looking for young people who are enthusiastic about creating original music, curious about composition and keen to experiment with new sounds and ideas.
Timetable
Monday 12 October 2026: 2–8pm
Tuesday 13 October 2026: 10am–5pm
Wednesday 14 October 2026: 10am–6pm
The course will conclude with a performance of the new works at 5pm on Wednesday 14 October.
Venue
Seabury House, Peacock's Close
Aberdeen
AB24 5AX
Cost
Go Compose! costs £70 for the full three-day course, with meals provided.
Financial assistance is available if required. Please contact us directly to discuss this.
You can attend the performance free of charge. You can also invite your family and friends to attend the final performance. Tickets for this cost £5.
If you are travelling from further afield, supervised overnight accommodation can be arranged for participants at an additional cost of £35–£65 per night.
Deadline
Applications are open now, with a deadline of Monday 28 September 2026.
Apply here: https://forms.gle/k46YTZMZxvMj1Y2H7
For any questions, or to discuss financial assistance or accommodation, please contact participate@sound-scotland.co.uk.
Feedback from previous years:
"Hearing my piece was like a dream come true."
"One of the best experiences I have ever had."
"A very interesting and informative course that I strongly recommend to others. I would love to come back again next year."
Go Compose! is run in partnership with Red Note, Scotland’s new music ensemble. Go Compose! is generously supported by Creative Scotland, Aberdeen City Council, David and June Gordon Memorial Trust, Educational Institute of Scotland, Aberdeen Endowments Trust, Bliss Trust and Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust.
