I’ve just finished my piece now this minute and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of the tutors on the summer school.

I feel I can write music without anybody’s help (except it won’t sound like Mozart!) but what I love about the summer school is the fact that the student/staff ratio is about 3:2. Because of this amount of tuition available, and the fact that you’re surrounded by other young composers, you’re skills as a composer, orchestrator and general musician can increase dramatically in just one week.

I’m in the standard instrumental group and our key tutor, David, taught us idiomatic writing for instruments and clever harmonic tricks in just two, very interesting lectures. The rest of that time we spent working our compositions and getting advice from him and the other professional musicians.

It doesn’t matter how advanced you are – this course will help you and give you a week of enjoyment. As I said to some people, it doesn’t matter what your summer holiday plans are (whether it’s Disneyworld, Florida or safari in South Africa), this week will be your best!