CoMA Bespoke
CoMA Bespoke paired early career composers with CoMA ensembles to create exciting new work together.
Delivered in partnership with the University of Southampton, CoMA Bespoke nurtured new composing talent and tailored music to the specific – and often unusual – combinations of instruments found in CoMA’s UK-wide amateur ensembles. These include a group with flutes, clarinets, violin, viola, piano, guitar and tuba, and another where the musicians play kazoos, protest horns and toy instruments.
Under the mentorship of composer Matthew Shlomowitz, composers wrote a bespoke and inclusive piece for a CoMA ensemble, and helped ensemble members to also compose pieces for their group. Working with Matthew, the trio developed an innovative approach, creating a booklet of ‘prompts’ designed to guide new composers through the creative process. Rather than serving as a step-by-step manual, the prompts address practical aspects of composition while encouraging exploration of aesthetic ideas — broadening creative perspectives and expanding the range of artistic possibilities.
Matthew says: “This project is all about widening participation in music creation, getting amateur musicians composing. Our booklet of compositional prompts provides ways of thinking about beginnings, structure, notation, audience-text, surprise, and with engaging political ideas.”
This project extends the ‘Music for Cohabitors’ project Matthew began during the pandemic, where he responded to lockdowns by writing pieces for households on request, tailored to the specific instruments, skills and stylistic interests in each home ‘bubble’. CoMA Bespoke further explored this idea while also involving the musicians in the composition process.
Composer + Ensemble partnerships
After a successful call-out, receiving nearly 100 applications, three early career composers were selected to work with CoMA Ensembles under Matthew’s mentorship.
Uri Agnon with CoMA East Midlands and CoMA Sheffield (combined)
Fraz Ireland with CoMA London
Franklyn Oliver with CoMA Sussex
“Bespoke is FANTASTIC! I’m really enjoying the process and finding it very stimulating. Uri (Agnon) is good at asking thought provoking questions!”
CoMA Bespoke participant from CoMA Sheffield
Timeline
June 2024: Composers introduced to Matthew Shlomowitz and the CoMA ensembles they will be working with.
July – September 2024: Composers receive mentoring from Matthew Shlomowitz and work on their own compositions.
October 2024 – May 2025: Composers work with ensembles in-person to develop their pieces and mentor ensemble members to also compose pieces for their group. Continued mentoring from Matthew Shlomowitz.
June 2025, Bespoke Concert: CoMA Bespoke culminated in a celebratory concert on 14 June 2025 at Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust, London, where 15 original works were premiered, performed by musicians from the four participating CoMA ensembles, and accompanied by servings of their homemade cake.
You can watch videos of the CoMA Bespoke: Showcase performances below, as well as a mini-documentary about the project and interviews with all three composers:
Generously supported by an AHRC Impact Acceleration Account grant, in collaboration with The University of Southampton.
Matthew Shlomowitz
Matthew Shlomowitz is a London based composer, raised in Adelaide, Australia. Matthew responded to the Covid-19 lockdowns with ‘Music for Cohabitors’, a project where he wrote scores for musical pieces for households on request. The compositions were tailored to the specific instrumentation and skills available in each household, and also responded to the stylistic interests of the musicians. For example, a piece for an advanced classical cellist, intermediate rock drummer, and beginner folk mandolin player.