Young Composer Competition Winner Announced
Whilst the final six of the NYBBGB Young Composers Competition were all extremely talented, the overall winner has been announced as 26 year old composer Daniel Hall, with his piece ‘Dieu Et Mon Droit’. On hearing he was the overall winner of the competition Daniel said: “I’m incredibly grateful that my piece has been selected as the overall winner for the NYBBGB Composition Competition.
“Having my music performed by a world class ensemble and conductor in Sarah Ioannides truly is an honour and I’m very much looking forward to hearing the band’s summer concert!”
Summer 2023 Youth Band Guest Conductor Sarah Ioannides and Chair of the panel of judges (which comprised herself, Dr Robert Childs and composer Dorothy Gates) said “The level of applications for the competition was incredibly high and was a wonderful array of individual voices which speaks to the great diversity of young talent coming through as composers.
“We had a unanimous winner in Daniel whose work ‘Dieu et Mon Droit’, tributing the late Queen Elizabeth II, is most fitting for the times! Mark Bromley so well put it “a much loved convenor of billions of people and cultures from across the globe and creator of the modern Commonwealth.” It is a very compelling and exciting piece and I am looking forward to conducting it with the young musicians from NYBBGB. It’s clear that Daniel is already an accomplished composer of professional standing and will have a great future as a composer.”
Dr Robert Childs added “Choosing an overall winner from the final six was not an easy task, but with six such talented young composers it really was an enjoyable challenge, and a great sign for the future of brass band composition. Daniel’s composition really balanced musical flair with broad brass band appeal and a poignant theme. I think the Youth Band will really rise to the challenge of performing it at the Summer Concert this year.”
Daniel will receive a £1,000 prize, together with an offer from Prima Vista Musikk to publish his work, alongside having ‘Dieu Et Mon Droit’ performed by the NYBBGB Youth Band at their Summer concert.
NYBBGB CEO Mark Bromley was also pleased to announce 19 year Lennert Van Laenen from Belgium as the runner up in the composition competition, winning £250 and the opportunity to have his piece performed by the Children’s Band in their Summer concert at St Andrews Church, Norwich, conducted by Mareika Gray. On hearing the news, Lennert said “Wow, that’s great news, I did not expect it! Hearing a piece being played for the first time is the most beautiful part of composing.”
The judges also highly commended the pieces submitted by Jack Yagerline and Charlotte McGregor Graham.
