NCEM Composers Award

The Tallis Scholars are working in partnership with BBC Radio 3 and The National Centre for Early Music to offer the NCEM Composers Award.

This is the first year of this new partnership and the winning pieces will receive the honour of being premiered and sung by The Tallis Scholars in the opening concert in the 2009 York Early Music Festival at York Minster. BBC Radio 3 will record this concert.

The new NCEM Composers Award is a national competition open to young composers aged up to 18 years and 19 to 25 years who are invited to compose a new a cappella piece (unaccompanied) for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass.

Delma Tomlin, Director of the National Centre for Early Music is delighted with the new partnership and this fantastic opportunity for young composers. She commented: "It is a huge privilege to be working with BBC Radio 3 and The Tallis Scholars on this National Award. The partnership will really help to develop young talent and will give the winners the amazing chance to listen to some of the best singers in the world perform their pieces in one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world."

The selection process of the NCEM Composers Award involves an outstanding comprehensive development programme for the shortlisted finalists, who will work alongside the well-known composer Christopher Fox, in a series of workshops at the NCEM next May. The compositions will then be performed by York's own Ebor Singers at a public performance on Thursday 14 May in the presence of the young composers. The pieces will be recorded by music technology students from the University of York and will be available to listen to on the NCEM website.

Director of The Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillps adds that it was a very exciting development for The Tallis Scholars: "The Tallis Scholars are delighted to further their initiative of holding a national composition competition by joining forces with BBC Radio 3 and the NCEM. For us as performers, the competition offers a thrilling way to celebrate and encourage young composers to develop modern a cappella writing."

Information and applications are available to download from the NCEM website and www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/earlymusicshow/. Alternatively, email info@ncem.co.uk or telephone: 01904 632220.