Writing for Music

JAM's Writing for Music project has seen six pairs of young poets and composers each in turn linked to one of six choirs to produce a new choral work. Each pair is mentored with the intention of guiding them in complex task of writing a successful choral work. The project culminates in a concert on 9 November at the University Church of St. Mary in Oxford. The six choirs will each perform the piece written for them as part of the project and a piece from their own repertoire, then all will join for a performance of Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb.

The composers and poets were selected in autumn 2012 and were mentored by poets Ruth Padel and David Harsent, composers Judith Bingham and Giles Swayne and conductor Nicholas Cleobury. The six choirs involved are Woodstock Music Society, Schola Cantorum of Oxford, St. Margaret's Church Choir, Oxfordshire Country Youth Choir, Oxford Pro Musica Singers and the Choir of Somerville College Oxford. BBC Radio 3 has followed the project throughout, recording the writing phases to date and will be recording the concert on 9 November, for broadcast on The Choir later in the year.

The concert is part of a series of concerts, conferences and masterclasses, Britten in Oxford, a year long celebration of the work and life of Britten in his centenary year. Tickets for the event are available from the Tickets Oxford website.