Darwin Ensemble

Composition Competition and Workshop

Composers up to and including the age of 25 are invited to compose a work using at least
three of the following instruments: clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano. The completed
composition should be for a maximum of the five named instruments with no doubling, and
have a maximum duration of seven minutes. Submissions not conforming to these
specifications will not be considered.
There will be two categories:
A: 18 and under on 1 February 2010
B: Ages 19 - 25 on 1 February 2010
The two entries judged to be most successful in each category will be invited to take part
in a composition study workshop in St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, led by Ken Dempster
and Lyell Cresswell, with professional instrumentalists made up of members of the Darwin
Ensemble, led by Alex Laing.
All applicants and their guests will be invited to attend the workshop, during which the four
selected compositions will be rehearsed and discussed in detail, along with important
aspects of composition and performance practice. The workshop will run from 1pm until
4.30pm on Friday 19 March 2010, followed by an informal concert of the four selected
works at 5.15pm.
Prize
There will be a first prize of £200 in each category and the winners will be announced at
the end of the informal concert (open to the public) concluding the workshop day on Friday
19 March 2010. This concert will be open to friends, relations and members of the public
free of charge. All four performances in the informal concert will be recorded and the
recordings made available to the composers.
Requirements
The manuscript submitted should be of professional quality and legibility.
Three copies of the entry should be submitted along with the entry form.
DO NOT MARK THE MANUSCRIPT WITH YOUR NAME or any other identifying marks.
The entry will be judged anonymously.
Eligibility
The competition is open to applicants born after 1 February 1985
Adjudicators
Lyell Cresswell
Kenneth Dempster
Closing Date
The closing date for receipt of scores will be Friday 29 January 2010. Completed entries
and entry forms should be sent to:
Michael Harris, FoMSGC Competition, St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE
The four successful applicants will be notified by Friday 12 February.