Ellen studied for her PhD in collaborative composition (2024) at the Royal Northern College of Music with Larry Goves and Steven Daverson. This was supported by a North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership and followed her Masters at the University of Sheffield where she was mentored by Dorothy Ker and George Nicholson and supported by a University of Sheffield Postgraduate Scholarship and Julian Payne Tuition Fee Scholarship. Ellen’s BMus Music was at the University of Sheffield where she received department and faculty awards for her composition portfolio.
Ellen has received further composition training following selection for masterclasses within Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Darmstadt International Music Festival, International Summer Academy of Music, Psappha Composing For scheme and with Jennifer Walshe through the RNCM. She has received composer-educator training from John Webb, Andrew Smith and Patrick Bailey.
Ellen is an Associate Composer of University of York Music Press and her music has been performed across the UK, across Germany, in Australia, Taiwan and broadcast on Radio 3. Her commissions reflect the collaborative nature of her work (most notably within vocal music including with orchestra , chamber music, community music and music with electronics) from organisations/ ensembles including University of Oxford, National Opera Studio, Rarescale, Streetwise Opera, House of Bedlam, Bradford Cathedral, Classical Sheffield, Music in the Round). She is active on the DIY scene and regularly sets up her own projects in collaboration with others (including with funding from Arts Council England National Lottery Grant and NWCDTP Grants) and her research projects span from composition with technology to composition in primary and secondary education). See her outputs here.
Ellen’s work as a composer-educator has taken her to schools and Hubs across the country where she has delivered composition workshops for young people, training sessions for secondary and primary teachers, and training for other composer-educators. With Music in the Round, she has developed multiple composition resources for young people and teachers, used by students and teachers up and down the country. Ellen was MD of CoMA Manchester between 2020-2024 and has commissioned work from Kelly Jayne Jones, Shaun Davies and multiple RNCM undergraduate composers. Ellen is a huge advocate for supporting the development of other artists’ practice and from her duo with Amy Jolly (Bonjour Claude), hosts a tri-annual scratch night for experimental performers from North England.
Ellen Sargen 