UK’s National Centre for Early Music Launches 2025 Young Composers Award 

Open to composers aged up to 25, registrations for the award will close on February 7, 2025

Launched in 2008, the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) Young Composers’ Award is open to composers resident in the UK up to and including the age of 25 and is judged in two age categories: 18 and under, and 19 to 25.

The award offers emerging composers the chance to engage in early music instruments and performance styles and to hear their works performed by professionals in historically informed performance practice. Winners of the award will also have their works broadcast on BBC Radio 3. 

Interested candidates are invited to write a new trio sonata movement lasting three to four minutes, for two violins, cello, and harpsichord for the leading baroque ensemble The Brook Street Band. 

“You should explore a particular musical world and character in your piece … thinking especially about the interplay between the instruments,” wrote the NCEM. “We suggest that you take a movement from Handel’s Opus 5 Trio Sonatas as a reference point.”

To apply, click here. Registrations will close on February 7, 2025, at 12 PM (GMT). 

More information and the music brief can be found here. 

The deadline for submission of scores is March 7, 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be informed by April 4, and will be invited to attend the Award Day in York in May. Accommodation and travel costs will be covered by the NCEM. 

Candidates’ submissions will be evaluated by the jury comprising Dr. Delma Tomlin, MBE (director, NCEM), Les Pratt (producer, BBC Radio 3), and Tatty Theo (cellist, The Brook Street Band).