Emerging British composers Electra Perivolaris and James B. Wilson will be commissioned to write chamber works for YCAT artists

The UK's Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) recently named the two composers who will benefit from the inaugural year of its new Composer Fellowship program. The program will ordinarily select one composer per year and commission them to write two short chamber works for YCAT artists — but in 2024, YCAT is offering an additional Fellowship in celebration of its 40th anniversary.

The inaugural YCAT Composer Fellow is Electra Perivolaris, a Scottish composer whose musical language draws upon her dual British and Greek heritage. She has been commissioned by ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, BBC Singers, BBC Concert Orchestra, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

An additional Fellowship will be held by James B. Wilson. The first-ever composer commissioned by the Chineke! Orchestra, Wilson has won the Royal Philharmonic Society Composer Award, Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award, Lena Pritchard Green Award, and the Charles Black Fellowship. As part of the Fellowship, he will compose a short work for mixed chamber ensemble.

"I am delighted to have been awarded the YCAT Composer Fellowship in its inaugural year," said Electra Perivolaris. "The opportunity to collaborate and create new music for exciting YCAT musicians with emerging careers on the concert stage will be not only hugely rewarding, but will help to further develop my craft as a composer."

"I feel so fortunate to have received this exciting Composer Fellowship and the opportunity of writing a piece in celebration of YCAT’s 40 years in support of young artists," said James B. Wilson. "Long may their work continue."

"This is an exciting new step for YCAT and I am so excited about the potential to bring artists together with some of our most creative young British composers," said Alasdair Tate. "This is also a tremendous opportunity for the artists to collaborate fully in the creation of personal new works, carrying them forward throughout the rest of their performing lives."