Winner of BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition announced

The winner of BBC Radio 3’s 2017 Breakfast Carol Competition has today been announced as Bernard Trafford from Oxford. His setting of Sir Christèmas was selected from a shortlist of six carols, written by composers from across the UK.

‘Bernard’s carol is a worthy winner of the competition’, remarks judge David Hill. ‘It’s catchy and well written with lots of energetic rhythm. He has caught the spirit of the text superbly.’

The winning carol was performed by the BBC Singers, directed by David Hill, on BBC Radio 3 Breakfast this morning, and will be also played throughout Christmas day on the station. You can listen to Bernard’s composition here, as well as those of the five other finalists. 

Bernard retired this summer from his role as a headmaster at the Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Grammar School, where he wrote and arranged music for the students, including play scores and two musicals. He wrote his first Christmas carol aged 16 and went on to read music at the University of Oxford.

The compositions were judged by a panel including David Hill (former chief conductor of the BBC Singers), Judith Weir (Master of the Queen’s Music and associate composer with the BBC Singers), Jonathan Manners (BBC Singers producer), Margaret Cameron (alto with BBC Singers) and Griselda Sherlaw-Johnson (choral promotion manager with Oxford University Press).

Try out a subscription to BBC Music Magazine and pay just £9.99 for 6 issues today!

Published: December 22, 2017 at 11:21 am

The winner of BBC Radio 3’s 2017 Breakfast Carol Competition has today been announced as Bernard Trafford from Oxford. His setting of Sir Christèmas was selected from a shortlist of six carols, written by composers from across the UK.

‘Bernard’s carol is a worthy winner of the competition’, remarks judge David Hill. ‘It’s catchy and well written with lots of energetic rhythm. He has caught the spirit of the text superbly.’

The winning carol was performed by the BBC Singers, directed by David Hill, on BBC Radio 3 Breakfast this morning, and will be also played throughout Christmas day on the station. You can listen to Bernard’s composition here, as well as those of the five other finalists.

Bernard retired this summer from his role as a headmaster at the Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Grammar School, where he wrote and arranged music for the students, including play scores and two musicals. He wrote his first Christmas carol aged 16 and went on to read music at the University of Oxford.

The compositions were judged by a panel including David Hill (former chief conductor of the BBC Singers), Judith Weir (Master of the Queen’s Music and associate composer with the BBC Singers), Jonathan Manners (BBC Singers producer), Margaret Cameron (alto with BBC Singers) and Griselda Sherlaw-Johnson (choral promotion manager with Oxford University Press).

This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
© Our Media 2024