25 March 2025
Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus raised the roof of a packed-out St Marie’s cathedral on Sunday night, bringing the Classical Sheffield Weekend Festival 2025 to a close with a wonderful performance of Fauré’s Requiem in the presence of the Master Cutler and Mistress Cutler and other local dignitaries.
The concert kicked off with a rousing rendition of Gerald Finzi’s Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice conducted by Chorus Music Director Darius Battiwalla and accompanied by Neil Taylor on the organ. There followed the world premiere of three songs by BBC Radio 3’s Stephen Johnson, who explained that the second piece, with words commissioned by acclaimed poet Fiona Sampson, was created as a gift for his wife Kate, who was thrilled to be hearing the song two days before her birthday.
Stephen then presented the prizes to the winners of the Stella Jockel Young Composers Competition, which was set up three years ago to commemorate former Sheffield teacher and vicar’s wife who sang alto with the Chorus for many years, and which was judged by Darius Battiwalla, composer Philip Wilby and choral conductor Ellie Slorach. Applicants were asked to set their music to one of two specially commissioned texts written by award-winning poets and Chorus members who were there to read their poems – for music like the sea (Curlew at Redmires) by Katharine Towers and City of Sound by Susie Wilson.
Thomas Stearn, aged 30, who received £1,500 alongside his trophy and who is undertaking a Ph.D. in Choral Composition at the University of Sheffield, was the unanimous first prize winner, and everyone there was thrilled to hear the world premiere of his piece, in which expressive choral singing with soaring solos captured the sound of water and of the curlew’s haunting cry very effectively.
Cassie White, aged 27, who composes music for a Sheffield video game company, received the second prize of £1,000, while Reuben Tozer-Loft aged 23 was awarded third prize of £500. Cerys Owen aged 21 and James Thomas aged 25 were Highly Commended. All five young composers were there with their families and friends to experience this celebration of their contribution to the world of music.
The concert concluded with Fauré’s beautiful Requiem sung by the Chorus with soprano Jane Burnell and baritone Charles Murray, accompanied by Neil Taylor on the organ and conducted by Darius Battiwalla. Composed between 1887 and 1890, the work is much loved by audiences and singers alike and has been performed frequently ever since. “Absolutely beautiful” said festival Coordinator Rose Wilcox, “A fitting end to our sixth weekend festival of classical music which has brought music to thousands of people in packed venues across the city – it’s been a terrific success!“
For more about the competition see www.sheffieldphil.org/youngcomposer; about the festival see https://issuu.com/classicalsheffield2025/docs/classical_weekend_2025_brochure