Composers’ Workshop 2012

Project Outline

Talented composers from the University of Cambridge are invited to submit a composition to the Composers’ Workshop. From the submitted compositions, six will be selected to be presented at the Composers’ Workshop on 4th February 2012 at West Road Concert Hall.

At the workshop, the compositions will be performed by professional musicians from Britten Sinfonia alongside some of the most talented instrumentalists from the University. All compositions will be conducted. Oliver Knussen will host the day, and he and the ensemble and conductor will spend a dedicated period of time working on each of the six pieces. The whole creative team will give you advice and feedback on your piece and will discuss its development with you.

At the end of the workshop day, all of the six pieces will be performed by the ensemble, and recorded for educational and archive purposes. You will receive a copy of this recording, which you can use as part of your compositional portfolio.

A specially selected panel of music industry professionals will attended the full day and following the performances will select one composer to win the Britten Sinfonia Commission for the 2012-13 season. The workshop day will take place in front of a public audience and in addition to the decision made by the panel, the audience will also be invited to vote for their favourite piece. This opinion will also be taken into account by the panel when they are choosing the winner of the commission.

To apply you need to submit a composition following the guidelines below: 

 
• Your piece of music must be for at least four of any of the instruments given below:
    Violin 1 | Violin 2 | Viola | Cello | Bass | Flute | Clarinet | Horn | Piano
 
• It must be between 5 – 6 minutes duration
 
• You must submit two copies of a completed score
 
• Copies must be delivered by 12noon on Monday 19th December 2011 to: Faculty of Music Office 11 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DP

For more info or to answer any queries about the project- please contact:
Isobel Timms, Creative Learning Manager, Britten Sinfonia
01223 341019 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

John Hopkins, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge
01223 335177 (Faculty) 01223 747310 (Homerton) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Please read the guidelines on Score and Parts Presentation

The Composers’ Workshop is presented in partnership between Britten Sinfonia and the Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge. We are grateful for the support of the Stradivari Trust which has enabled the project to take place.

Click here to download the Composers’ Workshop Flyer

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I include another instrument in my piece?
o You can compose for any of the instruments mentioned above, but are not able to include other instruments in the ensemble.

Can I use amplification or electronics in my piece?
o Due to limited time and budget we are unable to include either electronics or amplification.

Will the flute and clarinet be able to double instruments?
o Clarinet will double A, Bb and Bass Clarinet
o Flute will double Piccolo
o A standard selection of mutes will be available for the Horn player however if you have special requirements, please flag it up with Britten Sinfonia Creative Learning department in advance of the workshop.

If my piece is selected to take part in the workshop – what happens next?
o If your piece shortlisted, you will hear before Christmas. You will then have one month to edit your score and prepare your parts. Please see the timeline below.
o Shortlisted composers will also be required to produce a programme note for their piece and be willing to discuss their composition with the ensemble in front of an audience and the panel.
o Please take account of the guidelines for production of parts as a great deal of time in workshops is wasted discussing legibility of parts, page turns etc. rather than the music itself.

Timeline for shortlisted composers
Score Submission Date Monday 19th December 12 noon
Faculty of Music Office (Please submit two scores)
Shortlisted composers announced Before Christmas
Shortlisted composers meet the conductor January – date to be confirmed
Deadline for final parts and score Monday 23rd January 10am to Britten Sinfonia, 13 Sturton Street, Cambridge, CB1 2SN

Workshop day Saturday 4th February 2012, 10.30am – 4.30pm, West Road Concert Hall.
All composers must be in attendance for the full day.

Commission for Britten Sinfonia At Lunch concert series
The commission for the winning composer will be performed in March 2013 at the following venues
Wigmore Hall, London
West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge
Assembly Rooms, Norwich
Brighton Corn Exchange, Brighton
It will also be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

The commission will be for Piano Quintet and will be performed in the following concert programme:
Copland Vitebsk
Shostakovich Two pieces for string quartet (Elegy & Polka)
Britten Reflection 
Faculty of Music Composition Prize Piano Quintet by winner of the Composers’ Workshop 
Britten Three Divertimenti

The deadline for the finished commission will be Monday 28th January 2013.