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The Christopher Brooks Composition Prize in association with The Rushworth Foundation

 The Christopher Brooks Composition Prize in association with The Rushworth Foundation
Summary:Young Composer Competition and Composing Scheme
Deadline: 30 May 2015
Date Posted: 11 March 2015
Details: Liverpool Philharmonic is pleased to announce a new annual competition for young North West composers, one of a number of new initiatives marking the organisation’s 175th anniversary. The prize represents Liverpool Philharmonic’s continuing commitment to the commissioning and performance of new music as well as our interest in supporting home-grown talent.

The Christopher Brooks Composition Prize is open to any composer aged 18-30 living, studying or working in the counties of Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester.

Liverpool Philharmonic will support and mentor the successful composer with the help of musicians in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and established composers. The composer will also have the opportunity to work with Liverpool Philharmonic’s Artists in Residence, benefitting from the expertise of musicians at the top of their profession. Previous Artists in Residence have included bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, conductor Andrew Manze, conductor/trombonist Christian Lindberg and pianist Simon Trpčeski. In the 2014/15 concert season, they are pianist Paul Lewis and cellist/conductor Giovanni Sollima.

£1,000 will be awarded to the winner of the competition. The prize-winning composer will write a new work for an ensemble from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra which will be performed in concert during the 2016/17 concert season.

The cash prize is made possible through the support of the Lancashire Sinfonietta Legacy Fund and The Rushworth Foundation.

The late Christopher Brooks was a founder of the Lancashire Sinfonietta (now sadly disbanded) and gave an immense amount of support and encouragement to young musicians during his lifetime. The Rushworth Foundation, founded by Jonathan Rushworth, continues a 175-year tradition of support for the musical life of the city of Liverpool.

The Rushworth family, founders of Liverpool’s famous music retail and pipe organ building Rushworth & Dreaper company, believed that they should support and serve the community as well as running a music business. They encouraged and promoted the participation in and appreciation of music and established and organised numerous concerts, competitions, festivals, associations and societies throughout the 20th century. These included the famous annual Rushworth’s Festival of Music and Verse, which ran for some 60 years. The business closed in 2002 and is remembered with affection by many, for all it stood for in the music world.

The Judges
Entries will be judged by a panel of leading composers, Liverpool Philharmonic musicians and senior management, and music industry professionals. This year's panel includes:
Professor Stephen Pratt, Professor of Music, Liverpool Hope University Emeritus Professor, Gresham College, London
Hilary Browning, cellist, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Timothy Jackson, Principal Horn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Cornall, Artistic Director, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Sally Groves, Creative Director, Schott Music
Jonathan Rushworth, The Rushworth Foundation

Applications Deadline

The closing date for entries is Saturday 30 May, 2015.

If you are interested in applying please email learning@liverpoolphil.com to request an application form.

Rushworth Young Composers Scheme

Liverpool Philharmonic is pleased to announce an associated project, the Rushworth Young Composers Scheme, which will enable to enable young composers aged 14-18 with talent or potential to:

• discover their creative and musical voice outside of school or exam based environment
• develop a composition portfolio to aid applications to higher education and/or employment
• develop a composition portfolio to aid applications to higher education and/or employment
• Collaborate with some of the region’s best young performers and work with young artists through Tate Liverpool and Young Everyman Playhouse
• Access mentoring and master classes from professional composers and musicians
• Have their work performed by young musicians in Liverpool Philharmonic’s brand new second performance created as part of the £13.8 million refurbishment of Liverpool Philharmonic Hall which is due for completion in 2015.

In the first year, Liverpool Philharmonic will pilot the programme, supporting up to three young composers, offered to existing members of Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Ensembles. In future years the programme will be open to external applications creating opportunities for up to six young composers each season.
Web Site:http://www.liverpoolphil.com/youngcomposers