A three day celebration of music-making culminating in the Final of this year’s Young Composer of Dyfed competition will see works by eleven young composers aged between 12 – 21 years premiered by the Lunar Saxophone Quartet at Rhosygilwen in Pembrokeshire on Saturday 17 April at 7.30pm.
Since October last year, over 900 schoolchildren from Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire have participated in Young Composer of Dyfed’s extensive programme of concerts, workshops and composition tutorials. Together with the Lunar Saxophone Quartet and composer Lynne Plowman they have explored the range and versatility of the saxophone and been encouraged to compose a work for members of the quartet.
The shortlisted finalists have been chosen by the competition’s Adjudicator Errollyn Wallen, whose oratorio, Carbon 12: A Choral Symphony was commissioned by Welsh National Opera and subsequently toured across Wales. She will join the finalists and quartet for a series of public Masterclasses at Rhosygilwen on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th April, rehearsing and refining their pieces prior to the Final.
“The Young Composer of Dyfed programme is unique in the UK,” says the competition’s secretary, Dr Antony Griew. “It offers students of music an all too rare opportunity to work alongside a professional composer and develop their individual writing skills. For those whose compositions make it through to the Final, the real prize is that of hearing them played by a professional ensemble. Seeing their faces, particularly at the Masterclasses when their pieces come to life is something very special indeed”.
Entry to the Masterclasses (Friday 16th 10.30am – 4.30pm and Saturday 17th 10.30am – 12.30pm) is free. Tickets to the Final on Saturday 17th April at 7.30pm cost £5 can be reserved by phoning 01239 840 387 or booked online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/youngmusicmakers. Admission is free to teachers and students in full time education. All events take place at Rhosygilwen, Cilgerran, North Pembrokeshire SA43 2TW.
