Emerging Artists

in full...

The FaceNoise Emerging Artist Scheme has been created to support the next generation of choral leaders, giving them the training, opportunities, and inspiration they need to build meaningful careers.

FaceNoise aims to divert the notion of being a musician as a craftsperson into being an artist.
 

Acting as a catalyst for what each artist already brings in skill, creativity and passion, we hope to provide a space for experimentation, risk-tasking and development.

The scheme's offerings are broad and holistic, creating an interconnected web of skills. We wish for the Emerging Artists to finish the scheme with a great number of tools from which they can make more informed choices about their next steps, either through new found inspiration, or indeed, a realisation that certain areas need continued development.

Rooted in Sheffield and the Peak District, this programme combines paid professional performance with structured workshops in conducting, arranging, audiovisual production, ensemble skills, and concert production.

​

The scheme is designed to be both practical and aspirational. On one hand, it gives six early-career singers concrete skills that they can use immediately in their work. On the other, it offers inspiration and connection, embedding them within Sheffield’s growing cultural sector so that they can develop long-term careers here, rather than feeling compelled to relocate to London.

​

By supporting this scheme, donors and partners will be investing directly in people: professionals at a formative stage in their careers. The result will be a generation of musicians equipped to lead, teach, inspire, and create, ensuring that choral music in Sheffield and the surrounding region remains vibrant and sustainable.

​

​

Conducting and Leadership

​

How do you communicate Bach to 8 year olds? How do you convince a choral society that they would make excellent backing singers?

​

One of the core purposes of the scheme is to broaden the leadership skills of emerging artists. Participants will gain experience conducting and leading in three very different contexts:

​

• Children and young people – where communication, energy, and creativity are paramount

• Adults with little or no music-reading experience – where encouragement and clarity are the key to building confidence

• Classically trained amateur adults – where depth of interpretation and artistic aspiration can be explored

By encountering these three settings, the artists will learn to adapt their leadership to the needs of the ensemble. This breadth of experience is crucial: it prepares them not only for professional engagements but also for the wide variety of community and education projects that sustain a career in music today.

Arranging

Arranging is included as a central strand of the scheme because it is both practical and creative. Through structured workshops, participants will:

​

• Learn how arranging can act as a facilitator for music-making, enabling groups of different levels to access repertoire

• Understand how to simplify larger works into smaller forces, without losing musical integrity

• Use arranging as a stimulus for developing their own compositional voice, encouraging creativity and personal expression

• Gain a deeper awareness of part-writing and the role of each voice, strengthening both musicianship and leadership

Each artist will have the chance to work on their own chosen piece, receiving individual feedback and guidance. This ensures that the training is practical and tailored, while also encouraging a sense of artistic individuality.

Audiovisual Production

In today’s world, audiovisual fluency is no longer optional for musicians. Online presence, self-marketing, and digital capture of performance are integral to building and sustaining a career. To meet this reality, the scheme includes dedicated workshops in audiovisual production, covering both engineering and production basics.

​

This training ensures that participants have the skills to set up their own simple productions, but also gives them the vocabulary and reference point needed to collaborate with professional engineers.

How can microphone placement enhance your artistic vision (clarity of text, stereo blend of voices, natural reverb of venue)?

Rather than being passive in the recording process, they will be able to contribute creatively and practically.

Ensemble Skills

At the heart of choral leadership is the ability to understand and empathise with singers. By participating in professional concerts, Emerging Artists will develop their ensemble skills:

​

• Seeing music-making from the perspective of the singer, rather than the conductor

• Honing a broad tonal palette, learning how to adapt to different styles and blend seamlessly when asked

• Experiencing the discipline and flexibility required to function as part of a professional vocal unit

This experience is not just about performance. It is about learning to balance individuality with collaboration, and understanding the subtle craft that makes an ensemble succeed.

Concert Production

A distinctive feature of the scheme is its focus on concert production. Many emerging musicians are excellent performers but lack experience in shaping an event from concept to delivery. To address this, the programme includes:

​

• A two-hour introductory talk on the artistic and logistical aspects of concert production

• Individual development sessions with each artist to explore and shape concert ideas

• Evaluation sessions to reflect and refine their concepts

Artists may draw inspiration from the wider FaceNoise network, whether through the retreat, the professional choir, Pop Chorus, or primary school projects. One particularly strong production idea may even be selected as an actionable live event, giving an artist the opportunity to see their creative vision brought to life.

​

Rooted in Sheffield

This scheme is proudly based in Sheffield, a city with a steadily increasing investment in music and the arts. Emerging Artists will be positioned at the front of this wave of cultural growth, equipped with the skills, experiences, and networks to play a leading role.

​

Crucially, the scheme is designed to inspire participants to continue working in Sheffield and the surrounding region. Too often, young professionals feel that they must move to London in order to sustain a career in choral music. FaceNoise is committed to reversing this trend, creating opportunities that enable exceptional artists to build lives and careers here. In doing so, the scheme not only benefits the participants but also strengthens the city’s cultural ecosystem for years to come.

Linked School Outreach

Alongside the core programme, a separate funding avenue is being developed to take Emerging Artists into primary schools in the Peak District. Here, they will facilitate the learning of local folk tales through song, helping to preserve cultural heritage, inspire young singers, and connect professional musicians with the communities around them. This outreach reflects the ethos of FaceNoise: music that is rooted, inclusive, and connected.

Additional Investment

Any funding raised beyond the core costs of the scheme will be reinvested into further opportunities for the Emerging Artists, including:

​

• Vocal masterclasses with visiting professionals

• Increased concert fees to ensure fairer pay

• Additional concerts to expand their performance portfolio

This ensures that every contribution strengthens the training and opportunities available to the cohort, with a lasting impact on both the artists and Sheffield’s cultural life.

Conclusion

The FaceNoise Emerging Artist Scheme is more than a training programme. It is a pathway for young musicians to thrive in Sheffield, building sustainable careers while enriching the cultural life of the region. By investing in conducting, arranging, audiovisual production, ensemble skills, and concert production, the scheme provides a holistic foundation for professional growth.

By anchoring it in Sheffield, it ensures that this talent remains rooted in the community, contributing to the city’s cultural future.

​

Support for this initiative means directly enabling the next generation of choral leaders to stay, grow, and inspire here in Sheffield. In doing so, it secures a lasting legacy of creativity, leadership, and connection.