Richard Barnard - Finzi International Composing Competition Winner - photo: Jon Rowley
Judges: Roxanna Panufnik, Robert Saxton, and Paul Spicer.
FIRST PRIZE:
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The Finzi Trust is excited to announce Richard Barnard as the inaugural winner of its International Choral Composing Competition. Together with prize money, the composer from Bristol will have his work, The Flaming Heart, recorded by The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge under their new director, Steven Grahl, as well as being considered for publication by Boosey & Hawkes.
The brief for the competition was to respond to the choral masterpiece by Gerald Finzi, Lo, the full, final sacrifice, and to use it as inspiration. After an impressive entry with submissions from 15 countries, Barnard's piece was commended by the final judging panel of Roxanna Panufnik, Robert Saxton and Paul Spicer as being a 'deeply musical setting of the text', and for having a 'unique voice' that takes the listener on an 'epic adventure that connects with the context of Finzi's work.' 'A worthy winner', was their unanimous conclusion. Richard Barnard stated: “It is a huge honour to win this prize. Finzi has been an important influence on me and to win an international composing competition linked to his music is very special. Writing 'The Flaming Heart' was a liberating process, a natural culmination of ideas and techniques I had been exploring for a long time. I'm so thrilled the judges thought it worthy of this award and I can't wait to hear one of the best choirs in the world bring my piece to life”. The Finzi Trust was delighted with the high standard and choral imagination of all the works submitted to this, its first competition. It looks forward to seeing Barnard's striking work entering the repertoire and to sharing its recording in the new year. Finzi International Composing Competition
Supported by the Boltini Trust Registered charity No. 1123129 |