Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus is pleased to announce the winners of the Stella Jockel Young Composers Competition 2024-25, part of Classical Sheffield Festival Weekend 2025.
The first prize winner is Thomas Stearn aged 30.
Thomas lives in Sheffield where he is pursuing a PhD in Vocal Composition at the University of Sheffield. He wins the first prize of £1,500, and his work will be performed at the final concert of the Classical Sheffield Festival Weekend 2025, on Sunday 23 March in St Marie’s cathedral at 8pm. BUY TICKETS HERE for just £16 to see the prize giving and to hear Thomas’s winning work.
“I am delighted that my setting of Katharine Towers’ poem has won first prize.” said Thomas, “I very much enjoyed working with the poem and contributing to the competition, and I would like to thank the choir, Classical Sheffield, and Stella’s family for this opportunity. I can’t wait to hear the piece!”
The judges were very impressed by Thomas’s expressive composition. “The entries were varied in selection and interpretation of one or other of the texts and in musical style, but all display impressive adherence to the brief.” said Chorus MD Darius Battiwalla, who headed the panel of judges, ” But we were unanimous in selecting Thomas as the winner. He has composed an assured work that shows great creative respect for the text. The Chorus is enjoying rehearsing the piece and it’s sounding really good”.
Before starting his research studies, Thomas completed an Masters degree in Choral Composition at the University of Aberdeen (2018), under the tutorage of Professor Paul Mealor and Professor Phillip Cooke. He sings bass, and his past commitments include performances at the BBC Proms in 2018, as well as performances in various choirs across the UK and further abroad. He is currently a member of the University of Sheffield Chamber Choir, which premiered his first PhD composition, Stars, in 2022. His music has also been performed by Sheffield-based Ensemble 360, part of Music in the Round, The Orlando Consort, and The University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir.
The second prize of £1,000 is awarded to Cassie White, aged 27.
Cassie works as a composer for a video games company on the outskirts of Sheffield. Her specialties include choral composition and composition for video games and other interactive media. Her work has been performed by ensembles including the BBC Singers and the ANIMA Ensemble, and programmed at events including Aldeburgh Music’s Friday Afternoons, the Oxford Lieder Festival, TORCH Women’s Spaces in Sound, Offbeat Festival, and more.
“That’s amazing news!” said Cassie on hearing of her success, “Thank you so much for this second prize. I’m extremely grateful and very excited for the concert next month!”
As a game composer, Cassie’s music has been heard in games such as Italic Pig’s Paleo Pines, Lightfox Games’ Rumble Club, Wargaming Group’s Cozy Islands, as well as upcoming titles such as Squid Rock Games’ Doodle Champs and Perfect Crime Games’ Parliament of Hell. Cassie attended the University of Oxford in 2016-2020, where she studied Music at St Hilda’s College under Professor Martyn Harry, graduating with a first-class degree. She then studied for her Master’s Degree in Sound and Music for Interactive Games at Leeds Beckett University, under Richard Stevens and Dave Raybould, graduating with Merit in 2022. Cassie currently sings with the Leeds Guild of Singers.
The third prize of £500 goes to Reuben Tozer-Loft aged 23.
Reuben was born and grew up in Sheffield, where early piano where early piano and violin lessons led to his membership of Sheffield Music Hub orchestra and later, Sheffield Youth Orchestra. He started to compose at an early age and wrote Snow for Ensemble 360’s wind quintet as part of their PowerPlus project, aged just 13.
“That’s terrific news—thank you!” said Reuben, “It’s been a delight to write for this competition, and it’s really wonderful to be awarded a prize. Do pass on my regards to the judges for their kind feedback, I look forward to hearing the winner!”
In 2022, Reuben graduated in music from the University of Birmingham (BMus), studying composition with Michael Zev Gordon and producing a portfolio of chamber music. Two of his choral anthems were performed by the choir at St Marks, Broomhill during his first year, and he arranged pop songs for an a capella group of which he was a member. Since December 2023 Reuben has been living and working in Bologna, Italy as an English teacher while studying for a masters degree in composition at the Conservatorio di Musica, Bologna. Reuben’s music is increasingly focussed on nature, particularly birds, for which he developed a fascination when his grandad gave him RSPB membership when he was young. As a result over the last few years he has written music featuring robins, geese, owls, and now curlews, pipits, and linnets!
Cerys Owen (21) is Highly Commended.
Cerys is a 21 year-old final-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Sheffield. Originally from Wrexham, North Wales, she is proficient in piano, organ and violin. Cerys has been a part of several ensembles, including Wrexham Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, served as Vice-President of the Sheffield University Symphony Orchestra, and participated in various smaller chamber ensembles. Cerys is building a portfolio of compositions under the supervision of Professor Dorothy Ker, studies piano under Benjamin Frith and is working towards a performance of pieces written by American composers. Alongside her studies, Cerys is an organ scholar at St John’s Church, Ranmoor where she is an active member of the choir and receives regular organ tuition. When not immersed in her studies or music-making, Cerys turns to hiking as a way of reconnecting with the world around her, often an inspiration for further compositions.
James Thomas (25) is also Highly Commended.
James is currently studying for a PhD in instrumental composition supported by a University of Sheffield Arts and Humanities Research Scholarship. Thomas has composed for numerous world-leading ensembles including the Arditti Quartet, Hermes Experiment, Orlando Consort, Ensemble 360 and Ligeti Quartet. He is a London Symphony Orchestra Soundhub Associate and his recent work includes a commission for clarinet and saxophone duo DOOT for premiere at the 2025 ICA Low Clarinet Festival in Arizona. James has a degree in Music and a postgraduate degree in Composition at the University of Sheffield, graduating with first class and distinction classifications, and winning the Julian Payne First Year Prize and Julian Payne Postgraduate Scholarship. Alongside composing, James conducts the University of Sheffield’s New Music Ensemble, teaches composition to undergraduate students and performs as a guitarist in an experimental maths rock band.
The competition is funded by a generous legacy left to Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus by ex-member Stella Jockel, a Sheffield teacher and vicar’s wife who died in 2020. Candidates had to compose a short choral work for a mixed choir to sing unaccompanied in at least four parts, using their choice of text from the two which were commissioned from award-winning poets Katharine Towers and Susie Wilson, both of whom are members of the Chorus. For more about the rules and to read the two beautiful poems, see Young Composer Competition 2024-25 announcement
The world premiere will follow Finzi’s Lo the full final sacrifice and three premiere performances of new works by composer Stephen Johnson, with Faure’s beautiful Requiem bringing the concert – and the festival – to a memorable close.
BUY TICKETS HERE for just £16 to see the prize giving and to hear the winning work.
Tickets for other events in the fantastic three-day festival vary in price, with many free or just £5. See Classical Sheffield / Classical Weekend 2025
For information about the competition, rules, eligibility etc, see Young Composer Competition 2024-25 announcement
To read and hear the two poems: