YOUNG COMPOSERS’ COMPETITION

Young composers are invited to take part in a competition to have their music performed at one of Britain’s major English song weekends – The Ludlow English Song Weekend 30 May to 2 June 2013 – and to work with one of the country’s leading composers, Julian Philips.

As well as having their work performed during the festival, winners of the competition will receive prize money of £500 (category A) and £250 (category B). The six finalists will be invited to take part in a workshop with Julian Philips during the Ludlow English Song Weekend.

Entry to the competition is in two age groups:

19-23 (born on or after 1 January 1987)

16-18 (born 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1994)

Entries are required by 7 January 2013. Further details and entry form from www.ludlow-english-song-weekend.org.uk

The judging panel is Julian Philips (Head of Composition, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and recently Composer in Residence and composer of community opera Knight Crew at Glyndebourne), Paul Spicer (one of Britain’ most distinguished and respected choral conductors and composers and Chairman Finzi Friends), Martin Bussey (a noted musician and educationist combining the roles of composer, singer and conductor at places that include Chetham’s School of Music & Manchester University).

The 2013 Ludlow English Song Weekend will be the fifth triennial festival, and, under the direction of artistic director Iain Burnside, is organized by the Finzi Friends who know and care passionately about the genre. As well as recitals by outstanding artists and up and coming talent, there are talks, workshops, masterclasses, and the competition for young composers is a particular high spot. Events take place in the elegant Assembly Rooms in this beautiful border town, so much at the heart of the epic poem-cycle A Shropshire Lad by AE Housman, which has inspired many composers and poets.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra today announced that Semyon Bychkov – who conducts the Orchestra at the BBC Proms this Wednesday, August 8^th – will join their roster of conductors with a position created especially for him by the Orchestra. The title of the Günter Wand Conducting Chair was chosen in recognition of the affection and respect that the Orchestra held for the conductor who was appointed their Principal Guest Conductor exactly 30 years ago, and is mirrored in the relationship they enjoy with Bychkov.

Semyon Bychkov said: “I am deeply honoured by the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s gesture. The relationship it had with Günter Wand resulted in many memorable achievements, which live in the minds of those who witnessed them. To be asked to join in this tradition holds a very special meaning to me.”

The Günter Wand Conducting Chair recognises the mutual wish of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Semyon Bychkov to collaborate on significant projects, and reflects the warmth of their relationship since they first collaborated at the BBC Proms five years ago. Of their magnificent performance of Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2, the Guardian commented: “Bychkov’s outstanding interpretation rose above the excitement and heady nostalgia of the piece to uncover underlying tragic nobility. With the BBC musicians playing for him like angels, this was one of the highlights of the season so far.”

Bychkov has subsequently conducted the Orchestra on numerous occasions, both as part of the BBC SO’s Barbican season and, as a guest at the BBC Proms, bringing memorable performances of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11, Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 and Verdi’s Requiem, as well as many other works. This year’s BBC Prom opens with a performance of Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 followed by the UK premiere of Richard Dubugnon’s Battlefield Concerto, with its dedicatees Katia and Marielle Labèque as soloists. Following the interval, Bychkov conducts a performance of Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, a composer with whom he is particularly associated – his first recording with WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln was Ein Heldenleben coupled with Metamorphosen (2003) and he made his Covent Garden debut with Elektra (2005).