The BBC Proms Inspire Competition gives young composers aged 12-18 the chance to get win professional performances for their music.
This year’s winners have been announced as Sarah Frances Jenkins (senior category), Rebecca Farthing, Will Harmer (upper junior category), Juliana Niu and Chelsea Becker (lower junior category). Each winner will have their music performed at the BBC Proms and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, as well as being granted a coveted BBC commission.
Previous winners of the competition include established composer Mark Simpson and emerging talent Grace Evangeline-Mason. Both have music being performed at this year’s BBC Proms.
The 2017 judging panel comprised of composers Fraser Trainer, Kerry Andrew, Charlotte Bray, Hannah Kendall, Gabriel Prokofiev, Tansy Davies and BBC Proms Director, David Pickard, who looked for pieces that were original, unique and inspiring.
LOWER JUNIOR CATEGORY (12-14 years):
Juliana Niu - A Short Fantasy
Chelsea Becker - New York
UPPER JUNIOR CATEGORY (15-16 years):
Rebecca Farthing - The Death of Lennie Small
Will Harmer - The Whole Heaven On Fire
SENIOR CATEGORY (17-18 years):
Sarah Frances Jenkins - Three Miniatures of Ynys Lawd
The nine Highly Commended entrants are:
LOWER JUNIOR CATEGORY (12-14 years):
Denis Patrick Coleman IV - Unity and Fragmentation
Joshua Rydell - Stimmungsswankungen
Aidan Bryston - Uncommon Time
UPPER JUNIOR CATEGORY (15-16 years):
Alistair Burton - Misadventures
Dominic Aoelio Williams - Munkytrenz
Alexia Sloane - Long for Equinox
SENIOR CATEGORY (17-18 years):
Ignacio Mana Mesa - Black Pictures
Jamie Farrow - O Magnum Mysterium (Reimagined)
Marcello Palazzo - Deux Etudes Pour Piano - No. 2