The Cory Band in partnership with the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has announced details of the 2016 RWCMD Cory Band Composition Prize.

Success

After the success of the inaugural competition in 2015, which was won by Lewis Furber for his work entitled, 'English Counterpoint', the 2016 event will feature a similar format, with entrants invited to submit pieces of no more than 5 minutes in duration.

These will be assessed for consideration for a final shortlist of three, all of which will be performed by the world's number 1 ranked band at the RWCMD in Cardiff on 21st May.

Judges and prize

There, four renowned judges will consider each of the shortlisted entries and the winner will be announced on the night.

The prize will not just include an immediate reprise performance, but will also come with the opportunity for it to be included in a Cory CD release and to be featured in future concerts by the reigning National and Brass in Concert champion.

It will also be published by Wright & Round Music Publishers, with the winning composer receiving a cash prize of £250 donated by Kapitol Promotions.

The judges will be Cory MD Philip Harper; composer Philip Sparke; Kevin Price, Head of Brass and Percussion at RWCMD and the highly respected tuba tutor and conductor Nigel Seaman.

World entrants

The 2015 competition attracted entries from around the world, with the final shortlist including works by award winning composer Stan Nieuwenhaus and respected conductor Ian McEllligott.

Thrilled

Philip Harper told 4BR: "We were thrilled with the response to last year's competition, and it certainly achieved our objective of creating new brass band music with a specific audience appeal.

Lewis Furber's winning work was not particularly conventional — in fact he had never written for brass band before — but it has subsequently been thoroughly enjoyed by audiences at Cory Band concerts.

I would encourage anyone who wants to increase their profile as a composer to consider submitting a piece."

We were thrilled with the response to last year's competition, and it certainly achieved our objective of creating new brass band music with a specific audience appealPhilip Harper

Further details

Entry forms, which contain details of the brief, can be downloaded from Cory's website at www.coryband.com

alternatively, e-mail Philip Harper at philip@philipharper.co.uk