ORA Singers announce 30 young composers as part of their 2021 Composer Competition

ORA Singers, a vocal ensemble with UK and international touring experience, have announced the lineup for their 2021 Composer Competition and mentoring scheme. The initiative will feature 30 participants who are all aspiring state-school composers. 

After receiving applications from across the UK, ORA Singers have selected 10 finalists who will be enrolled onto a mentoring scheme with renowned composers such as Ken Burton, Janet Wheeler and Richard Allain.

The Competition Final Concert is due to take place on Saturday 24 July 2021, and will bring the finalists together to hear the world premiere of their new works for the very first time.

As well as the 10 finalists for the Composer Competition, and in a first for the initiative, ORA Singers have selected an additional 20 ‘ORA Apprentices’, who will also receive compositional support led by composer Rory Wainwright Johnston.

Matthew Beale, Chief Executive of ORA Singers, stated ‘We have heard from so many talented and enthusiastic composers, and have been so excited by their love of creating music and desire to learn more’, before concluding with an optimistic outlook for the initiative’s participants: ‘We cannot wait to see where these young composers go in the future’.

The Composer Competition initiative was first launched in 2018 by ORA Singers and is solely open to the UK state-school sector, where students may have limited access to specialist composition mentoring.

Music support for students in state-schools has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with many pupils unable to participate in choirs, orchestras and other ensemble commitments. Consequently, these students have missed out on opportunities to perform in school musicals or represent their local music service in historical venues. As such, ORA Singers’ Composer Competition and mentoring scheme offers these students the chance to refine their skills, work collaboratively in new teams and gain confidence in their musical ability.

To find out more about this initiative and meet the 2021 finalists and apprentices, head to the ORA Singers Composer Competition page!