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Composers, Arrangers & MDs for Hire

Hire a composer, arranger or musical director for a wedding, concert, recording or show. Browse 89 professionals below, from songwriters who write a bespoke piece for your first dance to arrangers who rework an existing song and musical directors who lead the band, each with audio, video and 1401 reviews rated 5 out of 5 by real clients. The average price is £294, depending on the scope of the work.

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The average price for Composers / Arrangers / MDs is £294. Above you will also find a budget price and high end price. Contact the act you like for an accurate quote.

Reviews of Composers / Arrangers / MDs

Want to see more reviews? There are currently 1401 reviews of Composers / Arrangers / MDs in our review centre and the average rating is 5/5.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance do we need to book your services?

Booking composers / arrangers / mds as early as possible increases the chance of securing their availability on your event date, particularly during busy times of the year. However, many acts also accept last minute bookings, and we have successfully arranged performances for clients with just a few hours' notice.

How much does it cost to hire a composer or arranger?

Around half the acts here list a price, and those run from £100 to £500 with an average of £210. That is lower than most categories on this site, because the figure usually reflects a performance fee rather than a commission. Written work is normally quoted separately and per project. What moves the price is the length of the piece, how many musicians it has to be written for, whether you need individual parts for each player as well as a score, and how quickly you need it. An arrangement of an existing song for a small ensemble sits at the cheaper end. An original piece scored for a larger group sits well above it. Most of the acts here are performing musicians who also write, so it is worth asking for a single quote covering both the writing and the performance. That is often better value than treating them as two separate bookings.

What is the difference between a composer, an arranger and a musical director?

They are three different jobs, and this category covers all three. A composer writes new music from nothing. You brief them and they produce an original piece, which is what you want for a first dance written for you, a piece to mark an occasion, or music for a film or a show. An arranger takes music that already exists and rewrites it for different forces. If you want a pop song played by a string quartet, or a hymn set for the singers and players you actually have, that is arrangement rather than composition. It is the more commonly requested of the two. A musical director runs the music on a production. They rehearse the performers, set tempos and keys, often play in the band themselves, and hold the whole thing together on the night. MDs are usually booked for shows and theatre rather than for one-off events. Say which of the three you need when you enquire, because the words get used interchangeably and they are not the same service.

Can I commission a piece of music for my wedding?

Yes, but ask directly rather than assuming it is on offer. Only a handful of the acts listed here advertise commissioning explicitly. Most are performing musicians who also write, so the ability is usually there, but it is not the thing they lead with and a few do not take commissions at all. That mix has a real advantage when it works. If the same person writes the piece and plays it on the day, you avoid the gap between a score on paper and a live performance, and you can adjust things in rehearsal rather than paying for a rewrite. The most common requests are an original piece for walking down the aisle, an arrangement of a song that matters to you set for the players you have already booked, and a first dance rearranged for live performance rather than copying the record. Give as much notice as you can, and be ready to describe the feeling you want rather than the notes. That is what most writers actually work from.

How long does it take to have music written or arranged?

Longer than most people allow for, and very few of the acts here publish a turnaround, so treat this as a question to ask rather than a rule. As rough guidance, a straightforward arrangement of an existing song for a few players can often be done in a week or two. An original piece takes longer, because the writing is only part of it. You will usually go through a brief, a draft or demo, at least one round of changes, and then the production of a clean score and separate parts for each musician. If the music has to be rehearsed before it is performed, add that on top, and check whether the players will see it in advance or on the day. Approach anyone at least a month or two ahead for a commission, and considerably longer if it is tied to a fixed date such as a wedding. Rush work is usually possible and usually costs more.

Do composers and arrangers work remotely?

Very often, and this is one of the few things on this site you do not need to book locally. Around one in five of the acts here mention studio, recording or online work, and written music travels perfectly well as a file. A remote commission usually runs by email and call. You send the brief and any reference recordings, the writer sends a demo, often a computer mock-up so you can hear the shape of it before it is finished, you ask for changes, and you receive the final score and parts as PDFs. That means you can choose on the strength of the work rather than the postcode. Two things are worth confirming: whether the fee includes a recording you can send to your players in advance, and whether the writer will attend a rehearsal or the event itself. Those are separate from the writing, and they are where location starts to matter again.

Who owns the music once it is written?

Agree this in writing before the work starts, because it is the point most likely to be assumed rather than discussed. Only a small number of the acts here mention rights in their profiles, so do not expect it to be covered by default. The usual position is that the person who writes the music keeps the copyright, and what you are paying for is the right to use it. For a private occasion that is rarely an issue. It matters more if you intend to publish the recording, use the music commercially, or have other performers play it later. Worth settling in the same conversation: whether you receive the score and the parts or only a recording, whether the writer is free to reuse or sell the piece to someone else, and whether they expect a credit. None of this is hard to agree at the start, and all of it is awkward to unpick afterwards.

Frequently asked questions about Composers / Arrangers / MDs, how to register and how results are ordered are in the help & FAQs.

Hire Composers, Arrangers and Musical Directors in the UK

This category brings together three related roles. A composer or songwriter writes original music, an arranger reworks an existing song into a new version, and a musical director or conductor leads the musicians for a show or event. Between them they cover everything from a bespoke piece for a wedding to a film or theatre score. Watch each act on video and read the reviews on their profile to find the right person for your project.

A bespoke song for your event

Having a song written specially for a wedding is a popular choice, whether to perform live for the first dance or to play as you walk down the aisle. The process usually starts with a meeting to agree the feel and the lyrics, after which the writer adds instrumentation such as strings, guitar, bass and drums, with the couple able to suggest changes along the way. Many writers also supply a finished recording, and some offer extras like artwork or framed lyrics.

Arrangers and musical directors

An arranger can take an existing song and rework it, perhaps turning a pop track into a jazz number or giving a film theme a new twist for your event. A musical director or conductor can lead the musicians for a wedding, corporate function, theatre production or cruise contract. Composers also write to brief for film, theatre, games and advertising, so it is worth explaining exactly what you need when you enquire.

How much does it cost to hire a composer or arranger?

The average price is £294, though fees vary widely with the scope of the work, from a single bespoke song to a full score or a run of shows. Compare current prices for every act using the price comparison section on this page, or browse all wedding musicians if you also need performers.

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Frequently asked questions

Hire Composers, Arrangers and Musical Directors in the UK

A bespoke song for your event

Arrangers and musical directors

How much does it cost to hire a composer or arranger?

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