NOC 51121: Conductors, composers and arrangers

Conductors, composers and arrangers conduct bands and orchestras, compose musical works and arrange instrumental and vocal compositions. They are employed by symphony and chamber orchestras, bands, choirs, sound recording companies, and orchestras for ballet and opera performances, or they may be self-employed.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 1.
• Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: not one of the eligible trades.
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 1: Occupations that usually need a university degree. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 51121 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 51121

Skilled Canadian work in this occupation earns the standard points, the same before and after November 3, 2026, with no high-wage add-on:

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Conductors
• Select and interpret musical works and lead bands, orchestras and choirs during rehearsals and performances.
• Composers
• Create musical compositions such as television and film scores, theme music, songs, symphonies and music for interactive products such as video games.
• Arrangers
• Adapt and modify musical compositions to convey desired themes and to suit particular instrumental and vocal performances.
• Conductors, composers and arrangers usually specialize in a particular genre of music such as classical, country, jazz or popular music.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

• arranger
• bandmaster
• choir director
• composer
• conductor
• music adapter
• orchestrator
• singer-songwriter-composer
• songwriter

Employment requirements

• A university degree in music or completion of a program at a music academy, conservatory or school of music is usually required.
• A period of specialized study related to conducting, composing or arranging is usually required.
• Experience as a musician is required.
• Musical and creative talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 51122Musicians and singers
• 51120Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations