Southbank Sinfonia launches competition in partnership with University of Plymouth

University of Plymouth’s Arts Institute has launched a new competition in partnership with London-based orchestra Southbank Sinfonia. Composers under the age of 25 are invited to submit compositions to be played by the orchestra at the University’s newly refurbished concert venue, Levinsky Hall.

The winning composition will be premiered by Southbank Sinfonia, conducted by Mark Forkgen at the Levinsky Hall on 4 February as part of a programme also including performances by Robert Taub, Levinsky Hall’s director of music. The concert is part of Taub’s Musica Viva concert series which aims to bring high-quality classical music and performers to inspire the Plymouth community.

Taub said: ‘This whole season we wanted to focus on giving opportunities to young composers, just as the young musicians in the orchestra have this fantastic opportunity to play together. We thought it would be wonderful, as part of the celebratory inaugural season at Levinsky Hall, to find a young composer of the same general age as the musicians in the orchestra to compose an overture.’

Composers must write an overture of five to seven minutes with orchestration reflecting the Southbank Sinfonia (six first violins, five second violins, four violas, four cellos, two basses two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets and tympani). As well as the February premiere, the winning composer will also receive a cash prize of £500.

Taub is passionate about the competition as an opportunity to further highlight new music at Levinsky Hall. He said: ‘I think it's very important to promote new music, to be involved with new music and for audiences to be exposed to new music. The music that we consider classic has clearly withstood the test of time, but it too was once new, and by being involved with new music we have the perspective that allows us to play old music as if it is new, bringing to life all of its critically expressive and revolutionary elements.’

Winners will be decided by a panel of judges including Robert Taub as well as conductor Mark Forkgen, composer and Royal College of Music head of composition and contemporary music, Simon Speare.

Taub said: ‘We're hoping that we get a wide variety of styles of composition, and we're looking for that special spark of imagination. We're encouraging applicants to musically portray something that's special, not only about the opening of Levinsky Hall and this whole celebration that we're having throughout the year, but also something that connects in some way to the city of Plymouth.’

Applications can be made via email (theartsinstitute@plymouth.ac.uk) before 21 December. The winner will be notified by 5 January 2023 in order to allow time to prepare for the performance.

Levinsky Hall’s next concert as part of the Musica Viva series will be Virtuoso Violin starring violinist Mathilde Milwidsky and pianist Huw Watkins on 12 November. More details and tickets can be found here.