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Cambridge Young Composer of the Year Competition 2010
 
manuscript

Young Musician
of the Year
2010
2008

2006

Young Composer
of the Year
2009
2008
2007
2006

   

We are delighted to announce the results of our 5th annual competition for young composers.

12 years and under
Winner - Joseph Reynolds
Highly Commended - Luke Fitzgerald
Commended - Gawtham Ravivaruman, Jay Richardson

13-15 years and under
Winner - Alex Cook
Highly Commended - Damian Thompson
Commended - Donald Cummins

Unfortunately we had no entries for the oldest, 16-18 age group. Sadly this has meant that we have felt unable to make the overall Cambridge Young Composer of the Year award this time. On the positive side, the lower number of entries means that we had time to perform all of the pieces at the composing workshop on 19 March.

Composing Workshop
We introduced the idea of a free composing workshop for the first time last year and it was such a success that we are making it an annual event. This year's workshop took place on Friday 19 March at Anglia Ruskin University in East Road, Cambridge (see pictures below). The entries to the competition were played by professional musicans allowing entrants to hear how their compositions sound in practice. Composing techniques were discussed by the competition judge Jeremy Thurlow.

Composing workshop

Bass clarinet

Competition judge: Dr Jeremy Thurlow, composer and pianist, and Lecturer in Music at Robinson College, Cambridge.

Entry criteria
The competition is open to anyone aged 18 and under on 1 January 2010 who lives in Cambridgeshire (excluding Peterborough) or goes to school in the county.

This year's theme: animals!
The 2010 competition had an animal theme. Entrants were invited to compose a piece inspired by an animal or a poem about an animal. They could compose an instrumental piece or a song which sets a poem about an animal to music. If composing a song, they could write their own words or use an existing poem.

Age groups
Entries were judged in three age groups (age on January 1, 2010):

  • Up to 12 years
  • 13 to 15 years
  • 16 to 18 years

Composition length
Entries in all age groups must be a maximum of 5 minutes long.

Composition scoring
Competitors were asked to compose their piece for one or more of the following:

A soprano voice
A violin
A viola
A cello
A clarinet

All competitors receive written feedback from the adjudicator.

 

Competiton timetable

Entry forms to be received by: Saturday 28 November 2009

Compositions to be received by: Monday 4 January 2010


Winners announced: early February 2010

Composing Workshop : 19 March 2010

Download the...
Competition rules
Entry form