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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
NOC 51121 (Conductors, composers and arrangers) is a TEER 1 occupation, so it counts as skilled work for Express Entry. It is not on IRCC's high-wage list. It isn't on any current category-based draw list.
TEER
TEER 1
Skilled for Express Entry
High-wage
Not listed
No extra CRS points
Category draws
None
IRCC 2026 lists
| NOC 2021 code | 51121 |
|---|---|
| Title | Conductors, composers and arrangers |
| Broad category | Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport |
| TEER | TEER 1 — usually requires a university degree |
Example job titles
- arranger
- bandmaster
- choir director
- composer
- conductor
- music adapter
- orchestrator
- singer-songwriter-composer
Main 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.
Your duties should match the lead statement and most of the main duties to use this NOC — check the full profile on the official NOC site.
Related occupations
- NOC 51100 — Librarians
- NOC 51101 — Conservators and curators
- NOC 51102 — Archivists
- NOC 51110 — Editors
- NOC 51111 — Authors and writers (except technical)
- NOC 51112 — Technical writers
- NOC 51113 — Journalists
- NOC 51114 — Translators, terminologists and interpreters
- NOC 51120 — Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
- NOC 51122 — Musicians and singers
← NOC 51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations · NOC 51122 Musicians and singers →
Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list
TEER 1 also matters for work permits: see the spousal open work permit (TEER rules for spouses of workers), LMIA explained and the Atlantic Immigration Program (job offers in TEER 0–4).
Sources: Statistics Canada NOC 2021 V1.0; IRCC high-wage occupations; IRCC category-based selection; IRCC who can apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is NOC 51121 eligible for Express Entry?+
NOC 51121 is a TEER 1 occupation. IRCC counts work in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations as skilled work experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, as long as all other program requirements are met.
Is NOC 51121 a high-wage occupation?+
No. NOC 51121 isn't on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage occupations list, so it doesn't earn the extra high-wage or job offer CRS points. Canadian work-length points can still apply for TEER 0–3 work.
Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 51121?+
None of IRCC's current category-based selection lists include NOC 51121. Candidates can still be invited in general, program-specific (such as CEC) or PNP rounds.