Applications open for ORA Singers’ state-school composer competition & mentoring scheme

Award-winning vocal ensemble, ORA Singers, has opened applications for its 2022 ORA Singers Composer Competition and Mentoring Scheme. ORA Singers commissions, records and performs choral repertoire, employing UK choral singers and composers. Open to state-sector secondary school students, 2022 marks the third edition of the competition since its launch in 2019.

Matthew Beale, ORA Singers’ chief executive, said: ‘We’ve been blown away by the amazing students that we’ve had on our first two Composer Competitions… We’ve enjoyed hearing the overwhelmingly positive feedback from previous students and hope that we can continue the good work for next year and beyond.’

The competition is designed to develop young talent that might otherwise be overlooked. By assessing personal statements alongside musical work the competition recognises students with passion and potential.

The scheme will support 50 students: 40 apprentices who will receive 8 hours of compositional masterclasses plus behind-the-scenes access to the competition, and 10 finalists who will have their pieces recorded by ORA Singers to be judged by a panel of industry experts.

Young musicians selected for the scheme will be mentored by professional composers with the aim of writing an original choral work which will be looked over by our Workshop Leaders.

Pip Alpin, Audience Prize Winner, said: ‘This has given me the chance to work with impressive composers, peers and mentors and has helped a lot in looking at composition and having this piece in my portfolio is a real asset.’

Applications to the ORA Singers Composer Competition are open for aspiring composers born on or after 1st September 2003 who attend a UK non-fee-paying secondary state-school applicants will have until noon on Monday 7 February 2022 to submit their applications via the ORA Singers website.