Over 300 aspiring composers from all over the world have entered the University of Aberdeen Music Prize – the only event of its kind dedicated to finding the composers of the future.
The pioneering Music Prize competition is Aberdeen’s classical answer to ‘Pop Idol’ and, since its launch in October 2004, organisers have been inundated with entries from budding young composers in Malaysia, South Korea, China, Portugal, India, Japan, Italy, Germany, Finland, South Africa, Mexico, the USA and the UK.
The competition, which aims to encourage creativity and involvement with the arts, is being run in conjunction with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and BBC Radio 3. The unique initiative is set to put Aberdeen on the map as a centre of creative vision and excellence.
Dr Paul Mealor, Director of the University of Aberdeen Music Prize, said the competition had tapped into an area that has previously lain undiscovered: “Composers from every corner of the world have embraced our competition by entering, many of them sparing the time to write to us and express their gratitude that such an event exists.
“Nowhere else in the world does this blend of excellence and inclusion, art and creativity take place. It is quite unique. The level of entries that we have received is amazing. The standard is exceptionally high and this is surely going to put Aberdeen on the cultural map for a very long time.”
The inaugural award for String Quartet will be presented in April 2005 at the end of a weekend of workshops featuring the short-listed composers and members of the BBC SSO. The winning composer will receive a prize of £5,000 and a commission for a full-scale work to be premiered by the BBC SSO and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
The weekend, which runs from Friday, April 29, to Sunday, May 1, will be an activity-filled programme of hands-on events including outreach workshops for school pupils and teachers and fun beginners workshops for the public at the ‘Create Studio’. The Music Hall will host a concert with the BBC SSO, while the University will host an evening concert with University musicians and school pupils.
The University of Aberdeen Music Prize has secured the support of one of the world’s most celebrated musicians and University of Aberdeen Honorary Graduate, Evelyn Glennie, OBE, who has come on board as Patron.
The competition also welcomes two distinguished musicians, Jonathan Harvey and Robert Saxton, who will judge the first award for the best composition for string quartet.