COMA (Contemporary Music-making for Amateurs) is a UK wide network that exists to encourage and provide opportunities for amateur musicians to take an active part in contemporary music making. It has an extensive programme of activities aimed at developing and performing exciting and challenging repertoire technically accessible to musicians of all standards. Its ensembles are regularly invited to take part in major national and international events including Spitalfields Festival, Bath International Music Festival and the Huddersfield and Oxford Contemporary Music Festivals. Internationally, COMA has performed with acclaim at the ISCM New Music Days and at Cite de la Musique in Paris.

Within the UK, COMA has set up a number of instrumental and vocal ensembles which rehearse and perform regularly throughout the year. The ensembles are based in many of the major cities in England as well as in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its open access policy means there are no auditions and no prior conditions of membership, ensuring that the ensembles cater for players, singers and composers of all abilities. Visiting musicians are always welcome.

In addition to its regional activities, COMA manages a number of important national projects. Its Contemporary Music Summer School at Bretton Hall, Yorkshire is unique, and has a strong international element, in its programming and in those taking part. The ambitious Open Score project works with leading conservatoires and music colleges throughout the UK with the express purpose of creating a generation of composers who aspire to write high-quality classical music not only for professional musicians, but also for amateurs.

It has established links through commissions with a number of composers and performers in other countries and is keen to develop this further. COMA can provide help and advice on establishing self-sufficient amateur ensembles writing challenging, yet technically accessible, repertoire for amateur ensembles and has a successful track record of facilitating links between professional and amateur musicians and composers.

In 1997 COMA was the music winner of the Prudential Award for the Arts. In 2003 COMA was short-listed for the RPS Music Award for Education.