New Variation - Composition Competition

New Variation - Composition Competition
The Cheltenham Music Festival is running a composition competition to write another ‘Variation for Judith’. The two winning Variations will be premiered by Melvyn Tan at the 2012 festival.

The competition winners’ pieces will join variations by such prolific composers as Richard Rodney Bennett, Michael Berkeley, Diana Burrell, Jonathan Dove, Peter Maxwell Davies, Tarik O Regan, Thea Musgrave, Anthony Payne and Judith Weir in the Variations for Judith collection. The collection consists of simple to moderate standard piano miniatures on the theme of Bach/Stölzel's 'Bist du bei mir’, and is a gift to the former Executive Director of Spitalfields Festival, Judith Serota. Judith was the winner of the very first BAFA award in 2007 for her outstanding contribution to Spitalfields and the larger festival sector.

This YouTube video shows Melvyn Tan playing extracts of existing variations, which all have their own unique character:



Entrants are invited to submit a new Variation of no more than two minutes in length for solo piano, of ABRSM grade I-V standard. There are two categories – under 18 and adult – and a winner from each category will hear their piece performed at the Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham as well as receiving a lesson from either Diana Burrell or Tarik O’Regan.

This is an excellent opportunity for a musician of any age to receive recognition and tuition from a top UK composer. For more information and details of how to enter, please visit the Cheltenham Festival Website .

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