ICP 2011 Winners
There was a real buzz at St Gregory’s Music Centre on Sunday 11th December when the International Composer Pyramid winners from 2011 had their pieces performed by the ICP Ensemble. During the year the composers had been mentored by Robert Saxton, Professor of Composition at Oxford University and Philippe Boivin from France.
The judges included Piers Hellawell, Professor of Composition at Queen’s University, Belfast. His works have been commissioned, broadcast and performed around the world. He has collaborated with the Hilliard Ensemble, the Schubert Ensemble of London, the Scottish Ensemble and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
His work is published by Edition Peters.
The judges certainly had a difficult task with all 12 pieces being a unique masterpiece in its own right. Philippe Nahon, Conductor of the ICP Ensemble for 2012 certainly ensured that each piece was well rehearsed and showcased. Philippe Nahon is Music Director of the Ars Nova Instrumemtal Ensemble and an advocate for contemporary music.
There were three winning pieces Frame/Refrain by Edmund Finnis, Alice by Victor Ibarra and Momentum by Ben Oliver: Two English composers and one from Mexico who is studying in France. These winning works will be played in Sounds New 2012 by London Sinfonietta on the first day of Sounds New – Friday, May 4th 2012 at Augustine Hall at 7.30pm and Arditti Quartet, details still to be announced.
Edmund Finnis is a London based composer who writes music for film, art galleries, installation and choreography. His first work for full orchestra was premiered by the Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra in Helsinki and at the Barbican. Victor Ibarra, has received commissions from many important ensembles in the USA. Ben Oliver was also one of the winners of the 2010 competition. His inspiration for contemporary music came from a visit to one of Sounds New’s concerts and he has never looked back. He lectures in composition at the University of Southampton but is doing Postdoctoral Research in composition for Cochlear Implant Users. He currently conducts The Workers Union, an ensemble of young professional musicians from London.
The 2012 worldwide Call for Scores was launched. The selected composers will be announced in the presence of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies on the 4th May at the London Sinfonietta concert. Mark Dooley, Head of Contemporary Music at Edition Peters announced that the winning work will be offered publication by the House of Edition Peters. This is a real coup for any composers as to have one’s work published by such a prestigious publishing house is a major achievement.
Sounds New Festival starts on the 4th May and tickets for one of its concerts are already on sale at The New Marlowe Box Office. On Tuesday 15th May The King’s Singers, one of the world’s most celebrated vocal groups, will be performing at The New Marlowe. The King’s Singers have a packed schedule of concerts, recordings, media and education work that spans the globe. They will perform many new commissions and contemporary music in their repertoire and a new work specially commissioned to celebrate the Queen’s jubilee. It will be a night not to be missed! http://www.kingssingers.com/ Tickets can be purchased from The New Marlowe Box Office on 01227 787787 or online: www.marlowetheatre.com
For full details of the International Composer Pyramid please visit the website