Wigmore Hall Announces Lockdown Commissions Scheme Winners

16 composers were chosen in Wigmore Halls’ largest commissioning initiative in its history

Out of the 700 applications received, 16 individuals who have never before been commissioned by the venue were chosen to write music about their individual lockdown experiences. The pieces will be premiered at Wigmore Hall over the next four years.

The winners span from age 24 to 63 and are of five different nationalities.

The composers are:

• Patricia Alessandrini (American)
• Francesco Antonioni (Italian)
• Katherine Balch (American)
• Nicholas Bents (American)
• Jocelyn Campbell (British)
• Alexander Campkin (British)
• Tom Coult (British)
• Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade (British)
• Lawrence Dunn (British)
• Samantha Fernando (British)
• Thomas Biggs (British)
• Stewart Goodyear (Canadian)
• Hilda Paredes (British/Mexican)
• Alex Paxton (British)
• Shruthi Rajasekar (American)
• Alex Tay (British)

“The ‘Lockdown Commissions Scheme’ is the largest single initiative Wigmore Hall has ever undertaken to find new voices, and a fitting way to celebrate an important anniversary as we look to the future," said John Gilhooly, Director of Wigmore Hall. "It has been a great joy to hear new music of such quality and invention from such diverse talents across the globe. I am looking forward to programming the premieres with these new friends."

Wigmore Hall’s Lockdown Commissions Scheme is supported by a lead gift from the Marchus Trust.