We are excited to announce our Award Scheme & Commission for 2024. If you are a composer aged between 14 and 17 read on…
THE COMMISSION
This year we will be commissioning our awarded composers to create new works for percussion. We are very pleased to be partnering this year with the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music, London (RCMJD). We will be making use of the College’s extensive Percussion Suite, in which our events under this scheme will be held, on Saturdays.
Each successful awarded young composer will be commissioned to write a short piece (maximum two minutes performance time), for untuned percussion, to be performed by 1 percussionist. The writing for percussion may include extended techniques but these must not involve harming the instruments in any way.
Selection of the successful applicants in early January ’24 will be followed by an introduction to percussion by Head of Percussion RCMJD – Cameron Sinclair. The award will fund individual lessons in composition from their designated MRF mentor-composer. The pieces will be workshopped in mid-February along with pieces by the Junior Department composers. The premieres of all the pieces will be at a RCM concert in mid-March. A recording will be made of each premiere and provided to the award-holder.
Included with the Scheme, is the MRF Come and Sing – Come and Play day on Sunday April 21st ’24, in Alton, Hampshire. This will feature pieces by MRF alumni, award-holders and other contemporary composers. Award-holders will have the opportunity of writing a short piece for choir. In preparation for this, Alison Willis – MRF mentor-composer, will provide an on-line workshop: ‘writing for choir’.
TO APPLY for an MRF AWARD, if you will be between 14 & 17 this academic year…
Go to: www.martinreadfoundation.org
On the opening page: News and Events, click REGISTRATION.
You will be asked to consent to MRF holding your contact details. If you do, please continue with the form and write a short description telling us a bit about you, your aspirations and how you would hope to use any funds, your compositional experience so far and how you heard about MRF.
You will then need to submit 3 documents:
· 2 contrasting compositions, each maximum 3 mins length.
· A reference from a music teacher who is aware of your interest in composition
Please send us your best recent pieces, either complete pieces or substantial works in progress so we can get to know you as a composer. These DO NOT need to have been composed for percussion.
Application DEADLINE: Friday 29th December 2023.
Awards will be confirmed by MRF panel in early January ‘24. Selected young composers will be put in touch with a suitable mentor-composer and will receive a bursary to fund lessons in composition and certain travel costs to MRF events. The bursary is not to be used for accommodation.
Awarded young composers must commit to attending the following events:
Sat. Jan. 13th Introduction to Percussion with Cameron Sinclair and mentors on writing for percussion.
VENUE: Percussion Suite, RCM, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BS TIMES: 4 – 5pm
Sat. Feb. 17th Mid-points workshop with Cameron Sinclair and mentors on the developing commissions. This will include both RCMJD composers &
MRF awarded composers.
VENUE: Percussion Suite, RCM, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BS TIMES: 4 – 6pm
Sat. March 2nd Final submissions of percussion pieces.
Sat. March 16th Contemporary Concert including premieres of the percussion pieces.
VENUE: Performance Hall, Royal College of Music TIMES: 4 – 5pm – rehearsal of percussion pieces 5.30pm – concert.
Sun. April 21st Come and Sing / Come and Play
VENUE: Martin Read Hall, Alton College, Alton, Hampshire (TBC) TIMES: TBC
We look forward to receiving your application.
For further information about MRF and its scheme supporting young composers, please see www.martinreadfoundation.org
Any queries please email beccy@martinreadfoundation.org
martinreadfoundation.org ∙ established 2014 ∙ CIO no.: 1156661 ∙ Hampshire Music Education Hub partner
Patrons: Howard Skempton ∙ Gwyneth Herbert ∙ Judith Weir CBE