Young Composers Competition

Competition Details

In our second Young Composers’ Competition, we are looking for six new works (three winners and three runners up). The winning pieces will be rehearsed at the NYBBGB summer course and performed at the Youth Band summer concert in the magnificent Amaryllis Fleming Hall of the Royal College of Music, London under the baton of Maestro Martyn Brabbins on 9th August 2025.

Our first Young Composers’ Competition was won by Daniel Hall with his piece ‘Dieu Et Mon Droit’, which was performed by the Youth Band, conducted by Sarah Ioannides. Lennert Van Laenen from Belgium was the runner up and had his piece performed by the Children’s Band, conducted by Mareika Gray. The judges also highly commended pieces submitted by Jack Yagerline (which was also performed by the Youth Band) and Charlotte McGregor Graham.

The NYBBGB has subsequently commissioned both Daniel Hall and Charlotte McGregor-Graham to write new works.

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Competition Rules

This year’s competition offers young composers a blank canvas for unrestricted creative expression, inviting them to explore a myriad of musical styles and genres. Participants are encouraged to craft original works for brass band lasting between three and six minutes, with an emphasis on capturing the essence of their artistic vision.

The work must be new, unpublished and not have been publicly performed.

Three winners and three runners up will be chosen from the entries by the panel of judges, Maestro Martyn Brabbins, Composer Gavin Higgins and NYBBGB’s Director of Artistic Planning Dr Robert Childs.

Each winner will receive a cash prize of £750, a mentoring opportunity and their pieces will be rehearsed and performed at NYBBGB courses and concerts in 2025.

Each runner up will receive a cash prize of £250 and feedback via a one-to-one coaching phone call with a member of the judging panel. If there is a suitable opportunity it may be possible for the NYBBGB to perform one or more of the runner-up pieces also.

By entering the Competition you are giving your consent for your work to be performed, filmed and streamed online. All rights of the performance and recording will be owned by the NYBBGB in perpetuity.

Entries

1. Your entry must be submitted by 31st December 2024.
2. You must be aged 30 or under on 1st January 2025.
3. You must scan and upload an image of your passport or UK driving licence information page for verification purposes.
4. You must submit a short biography outlining your experience and ambition, including your recent place(s) of study and/or the name of your teacher(s), as well as a concise list of any recent and forthcoming commissions.
5. You must submit a Sibelius or audio file and a score of your piece.

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