Winner 2011

Alison Wrenn, winner of the 2011 competition, with Sally Beamish

The winner of the ‘Orchestra seeks Composer’ competition 2011 is Alison Wrenn.

After a fascinating and hardworking day at the Workshop on 13^th November, when we sight-read all four shortlisted pieces, the Panel selected a winner:

Alison Wrenn, whose piece written specially for YLSS is entitled ‘Battle of the
Winwaed’.

The shortlist this year was probably the highest standard yet and all four pieces had their strong points, but Alison’s piece, which received really positive feedback from players on the day, just had the edge. Unfortunately there can only be one winner for our commission, but all four composers who took part in the workshop had the opportunity to work with Sally Beamish, our guest composer, whose enthusiasm and expert guidance really made the day.

We are confident that Alison’s piece will be enjoyable as well as a challenge for everyone at YLSS, whatever their experience. We will be working on the piece next term and will plan into the programme a couple of extended Saturday mornings when Alison will come up from Bedfordshire and work with us. We will then aim for a first performance of the piece next summer – when and where to be decided but the historical basis for the piece makes Leeds the obvious choice!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the workshop, all who contribute to the New Music Fund that makes the competition possible (please see details if you feel inspired/able to make a contribution), and everyone involved in making it happen.

Our thanks also go to the 18 entrants, and to the other shortlisted composers, Fiona Linnane, Peter Marsh and Phil Taylor for their compositions which made the day such a memorable success.

YLSS’s biennial Orchestra Seeks Composer competition is on the map and we have
found a great winning piece for 2011-12!

Please note that we plan to hold another competition starting in the Spring of 2013.