Winners announced for 2023 NCEM young composers award

Florence Lockheart
Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Winning works by Owen Spafford and Jacob Jordan will be premiered by The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble at Manchester’s Stoller Hall in November

Owen Spafford (left) was announced as the winner of the competition's 19 to 25 years category and Jacob Jordan (right) as winner in the 18 years and under category (Image courtesy of the NCEM)
Owen Spafford (left) was announced as the winner of the competition's 19 to 25 years category and Jacob Jordan (right) as winner in the 18 years and under category (Image courtesy of the NCEM)

The National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) has revealed the winners of its Young Composers Award. Owen Spafford was announced as the winner of the competition's 19 to 25 years category and Jacob Jordan won in the 18 years and under category.

Now in its 16th edition, the competition final took place at the National Centre for Early Music in York on 12 May. Compositions by eight finalists were performed by period instrument group and 2023 competition partners The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble after a day-long workshop with the young composers, led by Ex Cathedra composer-in-residence Liz Dilnot Johnson.

The award is presented in partnership with BBC Radio 3. Sam Jackson, who recently took up his new role as BBC Radio 3 Controller, said: ‘Since joining the BBC as Controller of Radio 3 a few weeks ago, one of the many things I have been impressed by is the station’s clear commitment to nurturing young musical talent… I’m delighted that, once again, BBC Radio 3 is joining forces with our colleagues at the National Centre for Early Music to give composers the opportunity to write for period instruments, and that we will have the privilege of a first broadcast of their works on the network.’

This year young composers were invited to write a new piece inspired by a popular tune from the Spanish 'Golden Age'. Spafford’s work, Bog Bodies, and Jordan’s A Ceremonial Dance for Mice impressed a panel of judges including NCEM director Dr Delma Tomlin MBE, BBC Radio 3 producer Les Pratt and the members of the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble.

Tomlin said: ‘The Young Composers Award continues to be one of the highlights on the NCEM’s calendar - nurturing and encouraging young talent is a very important part of our work here… Recently our programme has featured an array of wonderful music from Spain and the new pieces complemented it perfectly.’

The winning compositions will be premiered by the ensemble at Manchester’s Stoller Hall on 9 November 2023. They will be recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Early Music Show on 26 November. A recording of the final performances is available now on the NCEM Young Composers Award website.