Work with the Music Centre

• Ushering and concert support

  The Music Centre sometimes requires students to help with ushering and stage set ups at concerts and events. This work requires students to be punctual and well-presented and follow safety briefings given by Music Centre staff. Check newsletters and social media for opportunities.

• Paid performance opportunities

  Student musicians (soloists, duos and small groups) of any sort who are interested in being considered for both internal and external performance opportunities will often be active Music Centre members, but we are always keen to know students who are ready for paid performance opportunities. The Music Centre often receives requests for musicians for weddings, functions and private events. We are particularly keen to hear from popular, jazz, folk and traditional musicians, though classical musicians and pre-formed groups should also register to be considered as opportunities arise. Register here.

• Internships and research assistants

  Through the Careers Centre Summer Internship Scheme, the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme,  and the St Andrews Research Internship Scheme the Music Centre often has students working on a variety of projects.

  StARIS internship opportunities: Creative Composition Projects with the Laidlaw Music Centre

  The Laidlaw Music Centre is seeking student composers to participate in two creative projects during 2026-27. These opportunities offer experience of collaborative composition, community engagement, and working with professional musicians, researchers, students, and community participants.

  Applicants may indicate an interest in one or both projects.

  Project 1: Scottish Saints – The Bells of St Fillan

  Supervisor: Jane Pettegree

  This project involves creating a short composition for voices and harp inspired by the traditional Scottish air St Fillan's Monastery. The music will be performed as part of a community singing event exploring Scotland's heritage of saints, stories, and song. The composition will focus on the idea of bell resonance associated with legends of St Fillan and should be accessible to relatively inexperienced singers.

  Project 2: Connecting Coastal Communities

  Supervisor: Ellen Thomson

  This interdisciplinary project explores climate change adaptation and community resilience through music, creative writing, and research. Drawing on research into the impacts of El Niño and climate change on communities in northern Peru, student composers will work alongside researchers, poets, community groups, and young people to co-create new songs and musical works that communicate stories of environmental change, lived experience, and resilience. The resulting works will be presented in a public performance in spring 2027.

  What you will gain

  • Experience working on a live creative project.
  • Opportunities to collaborate with academics, professional musicians, and community partners.
  • Mentoring and compositional support from experienced composers.
  • Experience creating music for community performance settings.
  • A chance to see your work performed as part of public events.

  Who should apply?

  We welcome applications from students with an interest in composition, collaboration, and creative engagement beyond the concert hall. Applicants should be enthusiastic about developing new musical ideas and working with a range of performers and participants.

  Time commitment

  The internships are offered through the St Andrews Research Internship Scheme (StARIS). Each project runs for 15 hours. Opportunities may run across Semester 1 and Semester 2 depending on the project.

  To apply, please complete this form: StARIS Student Composer Internship Application 2026-27 – Fill in form

  Previous examples of projects include:

  • Careers Centre Summer Internship Scheme
    • Iona Baillie – StAMP year one report (2020/21)
    • Zoe Bremner – StAMP year two report (2021/22)
    • Ella Roberts – International Perspectives on Music Education (2022/23)
    • Ziying He – Accompanist for Byre Opera’s production of Mansfield Park (2022/23)
  • StARIS
    • Claire Shortt – Music in St Andrews: participants, engagement, and experience (2022/23)
    • Sophia Kiely – StAMP in Schools: baseline data, analysis and early findings (2022/23)
    • Jovi Li – Recording as Research (2022/23)
    • Michael Chamberlain, Ross Donaldson, Gabriel Henrion – Composition as Research (2023/24)
    • Ella Roberts – Perspectives on Music Education: Outside of the Classical Realm (2023/24)
    • Abena Oppon and Ben Connaughton - Understanding engagement with music in St Andrews (2024/25)
    • Ross Donaldson and Melvin Chan - Composition as Research, supervised by Piers Hellawell (2025/26)
    • Ewan Riddell – The Producer’s Ear (2025/26)
  • Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme
    • Camille Ryder – StAMP year three report (2022/23)

  Check newsletters and social media for internship opportunities.