Early music composing competition opens for applications

Each year the award is presented by the National Centre for Early Music in association with BBC Radio 3. For the 2021 award, the young recorder quartet Palisander are welcomed as partners.

Composers are invited to create a new work for recorder quartet based on any dance-form from across all eras and cultures. The work may be a single movement based on a single dance-form, a continuous movement that combines different dance-forms, or a suite made up of two, three or four short movements. The entire piece should last between three and four minutes. 

Shortlisted composers will be invited to the Award Day at the National Centre for Early Music in York on Thursday 13 May 2021 when the shortlisted compositions will be presented by Palisander in a workshop led by composer Christopher Fox.

The two winning pieces, one from each age category, will be premiered by Palisander in a public performance at St John’s Smith Square on Thursday 20 May 2021 as part of the London Festival of Baroque Music and recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show.

Delma Tomlin MBE, director, NCEM, said: 'We are delighted to introduce an exciting new element of dance into this year’s awards. This really helps us to open up the award – giving us the opportunity to work with an ever-broader community. Palisander are well versed in supporting school groups and emerging musicians and we are thrilled to work with such a dynamic young ensemble. We can’t wait to hear what people come up with!'

Closing date for registration is Friday 19 February, 5pm, with the deadline for submission of scores on Friday 19 March, 12 noon.

Fore more information visit https://www.youngcomposersaward.co.uk/