Pathways
A programme of training schemes and opportunities which support early career musicians, producers and workshop leaders.
Schemes, opportunities and events
Our Trainee Music Leader scheme is a unique opportunity for a musician to develop their workshop leadership skills in the context of our learning and participation events and projects, working with a diverse range of groups and settings through a paid, bespoke training programme.
Meet our 2022/23 Trainee Music Leader, Rihab Azar
Former Trainee Music Leaders Lucy Drever and Luke Newby talk about their experience of the scheme, and why they love being workshop leaders:
Trainee Learning Assistant (TLA) is paid training scheme for people at the start of a career in participatory arts management.
Working as the Trainee Learning Assistant at Wigmore Hall has been an excellent experience, personally and professionally. This position has offered me an exciting start to building a future career - I have grown alongside an incredibly supportive team and developed a range of skills which are essential to my progress within the arts sector. Working closely with participants and seeing each programme come to life has been inspiring, and the team’s commitment to inclusivity has been incredibly encouraging. I initially faced difficulties entering the workforce, but Wigmore Hall has given me the opportunity to explore my potential at my own pace, in a friendly and dynamic environment, which has given me something invaluable: the confidence to develop my career further within this challenging sector
Libby, Trainee Learning Assistant 2022
This scheme provides a crucial opportunity for people at the earliest stage of their career in the arts, offering an individual the chance to develop their skills, confidence and experience in the administration and co-ordination of participatory music projects and events through a paid, structured learning programme. They are part of a collaborative, experienced and supportive team in the Wigmore Hall Learning department, learning from and working closely with the Producers, Programme Managers and Director of Learning and Participation to develop skills and experience in: event co-ordination; artist, partner and participant/audience liaison; marketing, audience development and copywriting; safeguarding policy and procedures; evaluation approaches and data collection; processing and storage of photography and other digital assets; and using arts-specific organisational software.
They also develop an understanding of: the place of creative music making in social justice, mental health, trauma-informed practice and safeguarding; reflective practice; how a music venue operates; how a collaborative, creative music making programme is devised, developed and delivered, with the chance to input and contribute to Wigmore Hall Learning’s programme and practices; fundraising, budgeting and impact measurement; working with diverse groups of participants and partners, and how each programme supports/engages their specific audiences and contexts.
The TLA has the opportunity to observe and work at a range of events at Wigmore Hall, as well as at other settings where possible, across the Learning programme, and is supported to devise and run their own event at Wigmore Hall towards the end of the scheme.
The TLA is supported to progress through the placement as is comfortable for the individual, so they can take on more responsibility as they/we feel is appropriate and desirable. They will be supported through line management from the Director of Learning and Participation and an external mentor. Our aim is that by the end of the scheme they feel confident to take on a professional role in participatory arts administration/co-ordination. They are supported to develop their reflective practice and funded to attend training throughout the year, including trauma-informed practice, mental health, first aid, inclusion and anti-racism, and safeguarding.
The Chamber Tots: Early Years Training and Development Scheme is a unique opportunity for musicians or ensembles who are keen to develop their skills and experience as supporting musicians in early years practice (with children aged 1-5). Trainee Support Musicians will be supported throughout the scheme by the leaders, mentors, and the Learning programme team. There is also chance to take part in other training sessions and opportunities as part of our wider Pathways programme.
Every year, we recruit Trainee Support Musicians to take part in our Chamber Tots programme.
Chamber Tots has been one of the most special experiences I have had to date. It has taught me the true meaning of child-led music-making and the importance of listening and responding. This scheme provided me with the space to think outside the box, to trust myself and to be fully present in a room full of people. The team at Chamber Tots were always there to listen, offer advice and nurture and encourage our musical ideas. I had so much fun exploring new repertoire, embracing the spontaneity of improvisation and connecting with like-minded musicians
Former Trainee Support Musician
The Music for Life Training & Development Scheme is a unique opportunity for musicians and vocalists who are keen to develop their skills and experience in supporting creative music sessions with people living with dementia, their families, and carers.
Every year we recruit one Trainee Support Musician and one Trainee Vocal Leader to take part in our programme. Trainees are supported throughout by leaders and mentors and have the chance to take part in other training sessions as part of Wigmore Hall Learning’s wider Pathways programme.
It's hard to put into words what an amazing experience it's been getting involved with the Singing with Friends choir. There have been moments in each and every session that will stay with me for a long time. I've felt supported by everyone involved to share songs in a way that felt intuitive and playful – the best way to learn.
Current Trainee Vocal Leader
In partnership with the Royal Academy of Music
The Open Academy / Wigmore Hall Learning Fellowship is an annual scheme offered to a chamber ensemble whose members are no longer full-time students, and whose membership consists of a majority of Royal Academy of Music alumni.
This bespoke programme includes mentoring, training days and practical experience across the Open Academy and Wigmore Hall Learning programmes, which is tailored to the interests and development needs of the ensemble, and which gives them the understanding, skills and experience to cultivate work in the field of participatory music making.
Since taking part, ensembles and their members have gone on to perform and take part in programmes across the sector, including with Wigmore Hall and Royal Academy of Music.
What an experience! Having the opportunity to be a core part of the process of creating a Family Day from start to finish was brand new for us. It was incredibly rewarding to co-design and co-lead a project … and we learnt a lot from it. We now feel confident to repeat this process in the future … We have developed our skills in improvising, leading workshops, creating new music with participants and reacting spontaneously and sensitively to whatever may be going on around the room!
Cavendish Winds
In partnership with the RPS
The Rosie Johnson Wigmore Hall Learning Composer (formerly Apprentice Composer) scheme provides a composer in the early stages of their professional career a range of opportunities to support their development, including: mentoring from a professional composer; a commission for a new work, to be performed in concert at Wigmore Hall; opportunities to take part in training sessions alongside other Pathways trainees, exploring participatory music practice led by experienced musicians and workshop leaders; and opportunities to take part in and observe Wigmore Hall Learning workshops and events.
Recruitment and selection for this role takes place as part of the RPS Composers Programme. For more information visit the RPS website.
Wigmore Sessions offer a platform for early career musicians, and are informal, intimate performances in the Bechstein Bar, which is specially dressed for the occasion.
