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Cambridge Young Composer of the Year Competition 2009
 
Jake Howarth

Jake Howarth , Cambridge Young Composer of the Year 2009

Past competitions

Young Musician
of the Year
2008
2006

Young Composer
of the Year
2007
2006
2008

 

   

We are delighted to announce the results of our fourth annual competition for young composers. Full results are given in the column on the right. For further details of the competition click here.

The Cambridge Young Composer of the Year 2009 is 18-year-old Jake Howarth (left), who took up the competition theme of 'Transport' by composing a work for viola and piano entitled 'From London to Cambridge' inspired by the train journey between the two cities. Judge Dr Jeremy Thurlow described it as: "A delightful piece, full of subtle and imaginative shifts of harmony and rhythm." This is not Jake's first experience of success in the competition. He was Young Composer of the Year in 2006 and has featured amongst the prize winners every year since. Jake is currently studying for his 'A' levels at Hills Road Sixth Form College and plans to study music at university.

For the second year in a row the 13-15 age group has been won by 14-year-old Nick White. Nick's winning piece this year was entitled 'Three ways to move'. Composed for piano it is divided into three contrasting sections which Dr Thurlow described as "very imaginative" with a sensitive exploration of chords and a "good sense of the sonorities of the piano." Nick is a pupil at the Perse School.

The youngest age group was won by 11-year-old Joseph Reynolds, a pupil at Chesterton Community College. Joseph's piece 'The magic carpet' was also written for piano. Dr Thurlow said it was "a most unusual and interesting piece... with interesting harmonies" and an ending which is "full of surprises!"

All three winners will have their works performed at a concert on Thursday 2 April at 7pm to be held in the Mumford Theatre, Cambridge. The concert will also feature performances by some talented young musicians as well as an exciting group composition performed by children from two Cambridgeshire primary schools.

The concert will be preceded by a free composing workshop when selections of the other composition entries will be played and composing techniques discussed. To find out more email: enquiries@cambridgeyouthmusic.org.uk

Competition judge: Dr Jeremy Thurlow.

 

 

Competition Results

Cambridge Young Composer of the Year 2009: Jake Howarth

Age group 16-18
Winner:
Jake Howarth : 'From London to Cambridge' for viola and piano.
Highly Commended:
Sam Johnstone
Commended:
Louise Hill
Anil Umer

Age group 13-15
Winner:
Nick White: 'Three ways to move' for piano
Highly Commended:
Alex Cook
Edward Lilley
Commended:
Roshan Forouhi
Alexander Woolf
Susannah Bedford

Age group 12 and under
Winner: 
Joseph Reynolds: 'The magic carpet' for piano
Highly Commended:
James Keeling
Luke Fitzgerald