The Christopher Brooks Composition Prize provides a unique opportunity for a young North West composer to develop their talent, access mentoring and guidance from leading artists and music industry professionals, culminating in writing a new work for performance by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra musicians which will be premiered in autumn 2017.

The prize represents Liverpool Philharmonic’s continuing commitment to the commissioning and performance of new music and supporting home-grown talent.

The Christopher Brooks Composition Prize is open to any composer aged 18-30 living, studying or working in the counties of Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester.

The prize-winning composer will write a new work for an ensemble from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra which will be performed in concert during the 2017/18 concert season.

A cash prize of £1,000 has been made possible through the support, for a second year, of the Lancashire Sinfonietta Legacy Fund and The Rushworth Foundation. The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors (BASCA), the voice for music writers, will also provide a year’s complimentary membership for the winning composer.

He/She will also be supported with a bespoke programme of workshops, masterclasses and mentoring sessions from resident and visiting musicians, conductors, composers, performers and other industry professionals associated with Liverpool Philharmonic.

The competition winner will also develop their composition and teaching practice through access to Liverpool Philharmonic’s programme for children and young people, including Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company, Youth Orchestra and Choirs, higher education partnerships and the El-Sistema inspired In Harmony Liverpool.

23-year-old Bethan Morgan-Williams is the winner of the first annual Christopher Brooks Composition Prize, and her new work will be premiered in concert by Ensemble 10/10, Liverpool Philharmonic’s contemporary music group, on Wednesday, 26 October at Liverpool’s St. George’s Hall Concert Room.

The Judges
Entries will be judged by a panel of leading composers, Liverpool Philharmonic musicians and senior management, and music industry professionals. This year's panel includes:

• Peter Garden (Executive Director, Performance and Learning, Liverpool Philharmonic)
• Andrew Cornall (Liverpool Philharmonic Artistic Consultant, Record Producer and former Vice President of A&R at EMI Classics)
• Sally Groves (former Creative Director of Schott Music Publishers)
• Timothy Jackson, Principal Horn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
• Stephen Pratt (Emeritus Professor of Music, Liverpool Hope University, Emeritus Professor, Gresham College, London)
• Clark Rundell (Head of Conducting & Contemporary Music, Royal Northern College of Music)
• Jonathan Rushworth (The Rushworth Foundation)

Peter Garden, Liverpool Philharmonic’s Executive Director, Performance & Learning said:
“Liverpool Philharmonic is always looking for ways to create exciting new opportunities for emerging creative talent from Liverpool and the North West region. This second Christopher Brooks Competition Prize builds on our extensive work supporting composition students in the City’s universities, along with the many local, national and international artists we commission to write new work for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and associated ensembles.”

Jonathan Rushworth of The Rushworth Foundation said:
“The Rushworth name has been synonymous with music in Liverpool and the North West for well over a century. We are keen to preserve the legacy and heritage of the family’s support for music and the arts in Liverpool and are delighted to support this second competition to encourage composition by young people.”

Notes to Editors

Applications Deadline
The closing date for entries is 5pm on Saturday 18th July 2016. Full details about to how to apply at:
http://www.liverpoolphil.com/christopher-brooks-composition-prize

The late Christopher Brooks was a founder of the Lancashire Sinfonietta (now sadly disbanded) and gave an immense amount of support and encouragement to young
musicians during his lifetime.

The Rushworth Foundation, founded by Jonathan Rushworth whose family were founders of Liverpool’s famous music retail and pipe organ building business, Rushworth & Dreaper, continues a 175-year tradition of support for the musical life of the city of Liverpool.

Photograph: Vasily Petrenko, Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Bethan Morgan-Williams, winner of the first Christopher Brooks Composition Prize.

Media enquiries and further information:
Jayne Garrity, Head of Communications, Liverpool Philharmonic
Tel: 0151 210 3791 / 07967 364241, email: jayne.garrity@liverpoolphil.com