Chorus launches new competition for young composers
28 October 2022
The Chorus is embarking on a new venture – an exciting new competition for composers aged 18 to 35. The competition invites people who lived, studied or were born in Sheffield to submit a short choral work for a mixed choir to sing unaccompanied in at least four parts. It is organised by Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus in association with Classical Sheffield, as part of the Classical Sheffield Weekend Festival to be held in March 2023.
‘Stella Jockel was a Sheffield teacher and vicar’s wife who sang alto with the Chorus for over 50 years.’ explained Chorus Chair Paul Henstridge. ‘She bequeathed a generous legacy to the Chorus following her death in 2020, and we are delighted to be using part of it to fund this new competition. It’s especially exciting that we’ll be singing the prize-winning work at the City Hall as part of Classical Sheffield’s three-day classical music festival’.
The text has been commissioned from award-winning poet Katharine Towers, who sings in the alto section of Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus. Kathy won the Seamus Heaney Centre Prize for The Floating Man and was shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize for The Remedies. ‘I’m utterly thrilled to have been given this opportunity’ she said. ‘I’ve greatly enjoyed the challenge, and it’s been such an interesting experience to write something in the knowledge that music would be coming its way.’
The winning composer will receive £1,500 and their work will be premiered at the Classical Sheffield Weekend Festival finale on Sunday 19 March 2023 in the City Hall. It will be followed by a performance of Mahler’s magnificent 2nd symphony by the combined forces of Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallam Sinfonia, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Hallam Choral Society, conducted by George Morton and bringing the 10th anniversary festival to a spectacular close.
George Nicholson, Emeritus Professor of Composition at the University of Sheffield, will head a panel of judges that includes the Music Directors of the finale performers. The deadline for entries is 31 December 2022 and the shortlist will be announced early in the new year. For details see www.sheffieldphil.org/youngcomposer.
Previous News Items
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16 June 2020 The Guardian – Covid-19 has silenced choirs
18 May 2020 Chorus supports its locked-down musicians
23 March 2020 Concerts postponed and rehearsals cancelled
2 February 2020 Chorus to sing Messiah with French and German visitors
2019
17 December 2019 REVIEW: Sheffield’s Christmas concert tradition
16 December 2019 Carol wins Classic FM competition
15 December 2019 Sheffield Telegraph – Chorus in finals of national carol competition
14 November 2019 REVIEW – ‘Beautifully and intricately rendered by the choir’
8 November 2019 Bring a Man Night
2 November 2019 Chorus to present Bochum gift to Lord Mayor
23 Sept 2019 Chorus kick off BBC Music Day on Fargate
12 June 2019 REVIEW Holy Face Sheffield Telegraph
07 April 2019 Bach’s compendium; SPC /Royal Northern Sinfonia, City Hall
1 Feb 2019 Chorus members sing Messiah in Germany
2018
28 Dec New Year’s Honour for local choir President
6 Dec 2018 Excellent programme from the Chorus
26 Oct 2018 Composer thrilled with recording
28 July 2018 Yorkshire Post celebrates publication of 1911 World Tour Book
23 July 2018 Chorus members sing in France during World Cup
20 July 2018 Tour de France for Sheffield Choir
03 July 2018 Chorus prepares to deliver French mini tour
14 June 2018 Up Close and Personal
11 June 2018 Audience thrilled by Rossini and original Mustel harmonium
31 May 2018 Chorus and harmonium in perfect harmony
11 May 2018 ‘Outstanding’ – Chorus ends Mahler tour on high note
30 April 2018 Review: Bruckner Orchester Linz, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, four stars
30 April 2018 Chorus sing a ‘blazing’ Mahler 2 in Edinburgh
29 April 2018 ‘Assertive Mahler’ Simon Thompson, Seen and Heard International
12 Feb 2018 Chorus sings with Sheffield mezzo soprano
3 Feb 2018 World premiere ‘an emotive journey’
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2017
11 Dec 2017 Calypso Carol on Classic FM
15 Oct 2017 Composer thrilled with premiere of his new work
3 July 2017 Chorus records new CD
6 April 2017 Stairs? No problem!
24 April 2017 Open Letter from the Chair: The relevance of classical music.
20 March 2017 It’s a fact – Singing is good for you!
pre-2016
16 May 2016 140th birthday celebrations
16 Feb 2016 What’s your ‘Fantasy Concert’?
18 Oct 2015 Sisters Steal Away
18 Feb 2013 Rachmaninov – will Chorus be reaching for the vodka?
8 Oct 2012 Free choral workshops and a welcome return for Handel’s Messiah
8 Aug 2012 Free choral workshops and a year full of singing
17 June 2012 Olympic Dreams – Will it be Singin’ in The Rain or Mr Blue Skies?
16 Apr 2012 Contemporary composers take centre stage
16 Apr 2012 New community links in Sheffield
3 April 2012 Bronte Mass ‘impressive’
12 Feb 2012 Alight: Eclectic music lines up to take centre stage as part of the Cultural Olympiad
13 Jan 2012 Scaling The Heights – Singclude Breaks Down Barriers For Disabled Singers
24 Feb 2011 Three-fold choral debut
22 Nov 2010 Songs of Praise – Chorus celebrate 75th Anniversary year with audience of over 2 million
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