PRS for Music/ESO Composing Competition 2014

PRS for Music and the English Schools’ Orchestra are proud to support a nationwide competition to find the brightest young creative musical talent of the 21st century.

2014 was a special year for both of these organisations. PRS for Music celebrated its Centenary and the ESO has reached their 20th year of music making.

In celebration of these milestones, we jointly held a composing competition for young people. We invited young composers between the ages of 14 and 25 to submit an original composition of their own creation to commemorate the Centenary year of PRS for Music and the 20th Anniversary of the English Schools’ Orchestra.

The four finalists' compositions were performed at the Apotheceries Hall in London, on 28th November in front of an invited audience, by the English Young Artists' Sinfonia. The prize was presented by the Guest of Honour, HRH Prince Davit, the Head of the Royal House of Georgia.

Finalists

The four finalists in our Composing Competition.

Freddy Wickham

100 Years On

Freddy Wickham is a keen musician and composer in his last year of secondary school. Aside from composition work at school.…more

Leo Geyer

Preface

Leo Geyer is a 22-year-old London born composer and conductor. He studied on the prestigious Joint Course at Manchester.…more

Sebastian Skelly

Night Flight

Sebastian Skelly is 19 years old, currently in his second year of a degree course in Creative Music Technology at the University.…more

George Owen

Approaching Bristol

George Owen was born in Poole in 1995. At the age of 5 he began cello lessons with Hungarian count Josef Koos, ex-Principal .…more

Finalists' Concert

The Four Finalists with Robert Pepper and the English Young Artists' Sinfonia

28 November 2014 - Apothecaries' Hall, London

The Finalists' Concert was held at the Apothecaries' Hall on Friday 28th November in front of an invited audience including HRH Prince Davit, the Head of the Royal House of Georgia.

The Compositions were performed by the English Young Artists' Sinfonia, conducted by Robert Pepper MBE.

Full Programme

• Felix Mendelssohn: Overture - The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave)
• Freddy Wickham: 100 Years On
• Leo Geyer: Preface from Materia Medica
• Sebastian Skelly: Night Flight
• George Owen: Approaching Bristol
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major

Compositions were judged on the night by the three judges, Edward Gregson, Richard Clews and Gonzalo Acosta and after some deliberation a winner was chosen.

The successful composition was Preface from Materia Medica by Leo Geyer.