Composers

Panufnik Young Composers Workshop 2007

Participant Jason Yarde with composer Colin Matthews

Panufnik Young Composers Scheme

The LSO Discovery Panufnik Young Composers Scheme is an exciting initiative offering six emerging composers each year the opportunity to write for a world-class symphony orchestra.

It has been devised by the Orchestra in association with Lady Panufnik in memory of her late husband, the composer Sir Andrzej Panufnik, and is generously supported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust.

Under the guidance of renowned composer Colin Matthews, the scheme enables composers to experiment over time and develop their orchestral writing skills; they form collaborative musical relationships with LSO players as well as witnessing their specially composed pieces put under the microscope by the LSO and François-Xavier Roth in a public workshop rehearsal – a major learning curve.

'My composer husband, Andrzej Panufnik, received three commissions and recorded most of his symphonic music with the LSO. He worried about how young composers could nowadays attain essential experience with highest level orchestras: this project fulfils his dream.'
Lady Camilla Panufnik

Panufnik 10 minute commissions

In addition, each year the Panufnik Young Composers Scheme offers one composer (from the previous year's intake) the chance to write a larger-scale commission for a main-stage Barbican concert and to hear it rehearsed by the LSO well in advance of its premiere, giving them valuable time to refine and rework these pieces prior to public exposure.

We are delighted to announce that the 2010 Panufnik 10-minute Commission has been awarded to Edward Nesbit. The world premiere of his new commission will be announced shortly.

Previous Panufnik 10 minute commissions:

Vlad Maistorovici Halo (word premiere 13 March 2011)
Andrew McCormack Incentive (world premiere 10 December 2009)
Charlie Piper The Twittering Machine (world premiere 26 October 2008)
Jason Yarde All Souls Seek Joy (world premiere 28 November 2007)

Panufnik 5 minute commissions

We are delighted to announce that from 2012 onwards, thanks to the generous support of the Helen Hamlyn Trust, we will be offering an additional commission opportunity for one Panufnik composer each year to write a 5 minute commission for a main-stage Barbican concert.

The first Panufnik 5-minute Commission has been awarded to Francisco Coll. The world premiere of his new commission Hidd'n Blue will take place on Sunday 15 January with conductor Tom Adès.

2012 Scheme

Applications are now open for the 2012 Panufnik Young Composers Scheme. Please download the application form below. The deadline for applications is Friday 13 January 2012.

2011 Scheme

Explore the diverse possibilities of composing for one of the world’s leading symphony orchestras.

This year's composers are: Matthew Kaner, Michael Langemann, Joanna Lee, Alastair Putt, Duncan Ward, Mihyun Woo

Participation in the 2011 Scheme began with a ‘Reality Weekend’ at LSO St Luke’s on 26 & 27 February 2011, including:

Composer introductions
Meet LSO players
Public presentation skills
PR training

Each composer will receive tutorials from Composition Director Colin Matthews, input from Composition Support Christian Mason, support from LSO players, and open access to LSO rehearsals and concerts over the year. The scheme culminates in a public workshop in January 2012 during which the composers' three minute works will be rehearsed by the London Symphony Orchestra at LSO St Luke’s.

This year's workshop will take place on Wednesday 11 January 2012 at LSO St Luke's, 1-5pm & 6-9pm, conducted by James MacMillan. To book a free ticket for either of these workshops contact Laura Sheldon on 020 7382 2566 or laura.sheldon@lso.co.uk

'This opportunity to have what might be your first orchestral piece played by no less than the LSO is the kind of thing composers hardly dare dream about. Since the Panufnik Scheme has been running I’ve been hugely impressed by the way everyone has taken full advantage of what they’ve been offered, and written for the orchestra with flair and originality.'
Colin Matthews, composition mentor

Previous participants

2010: Nancie Eloise Gynn, Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian, Christopher Mayo, Edward Nesbit*, Dan Stern, Elizabeth Winters

2009: Edmund Finnis, Francisco Coll Garcia~, Fung Lam, Vlad Maistorovici*, Max de Wardener^, Toby Young

2008: Andrew McCormack*, Joshua Penduck, Matthew Sargeant, Sasha Siem+, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Raymond Yiu^

2007: Elspeth Brooke, Emily Howard+, Tom Lane, Charlie Piper*, Evis Sammoutis, Anjula Semmens

2006: Larry Goves, Emily Hall+, Christian Mason+^, Matthew Rogers, Martin Suckling+, Jason Yarde*+

Key:
*Panufnik 10' commission
~Panufnik 5' commission
+UBS Soundscapes: Pioneers Commission
^LSO Artist Commission (commissioned to write a piece for a visiting artist or artists for performance in LSO concerts at the Barbican or LSO St Luke’s. Artists have included Midori, Lang Lang and the Silk Strings and Hugh Masekela)

Download the participants' biographies below.