We are delighted to announce the results of the 2012 Cambridge Young Composer of the Year competition.
The overall winner and Cambridge Young Composer of the Year 2012 is 16-year-old Alex Woolf, a student at Hills Road Sixth Form College for his composition 'ex spiritu' for trumpet, clarinet, cello and piano. Judge Dr Jeremy Thurlow described it as: "a very thoughtful, expressive piece. It has a strong dramatic shape, is developed very cogently from a few motifs and chords to create a great variety of moods and sounds, while all hanging together in a very natural and convincing way."
Alex, who lives in Over, is studying composition at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is a member of Aldeburgh Young Musicians. He has been composing for sometime and has already had several public performances of his compositions including a chamber piece “In the Gut” at the Southbank Centre. As well as composing Alex plays violin, piano, alto and tenor saxophones and mandolin.
The winner of the 13-15 class was 14-year-old Luke Fitzgerald of Harston, a pupil at Sawston Village College. Luke composed a piece 'Elegy to analogue' for solo piano depicting the rise, popularity and fall of analogue film and animation. Dr Thurlow described it as "a very individual and effective piece."
The 12 and under class was won by 10-year-old Stephanie Gaunt of Cambridge, a pupil at Perse Girls Junior School. Stephanie's piece for solo cello, 'Moon on the water', had "a soulful, romantic mood," said Dr Thurlow.
This year, for the first time, entrants were invited to compose their pieces to accompany a pre-recorded, electronic piece. Only one of the composers took up this challenge: Alex Cook, last year's overall winner, produced an exciting work entitled 'The icing on the steak' for piano and electronics. Dr Thurlow described it as having "a brilliant sense of energy which comes from the rhythms, which are really inventive and full of life."
All the entries were performed by professsional musicians at a workshop at the Leys School, Cambridge on 7 March when Dr Thurlow discussed each work and provided advice on composing to those taking part.
Winner Alex Woolf was presented with the Young Composer of the Year cup and a cheque for £50. He will also be invited to compose a piece for the Ely Sinfonia.
Many congratulations to all those taking part!
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