BBC Young Composer: a 2022 young composer Prom, new resources and a new network

This year, for the first time, there will be a BBC Young Composer Prom as part of the 2022 BBC Proms. Alice Farnham will conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra in a concert at Battersea Arts Centre which will feature six new works by winners of the 2021 BBC Young Composer Competition. The 2021 competition winners, who are being supported and mentored by Dobrinka Tabakova and Gavin Higgins, have been commissioned on the theme of BBC 100, celebrating 100 years of the BBC for this special concert which takes place on Saturday 30 July.

Since 2020, there have been a significant increase in applications to the BBC Young Composer competition. To allow for a new, more comprehensive development and mentoring programme for more of the many young musicians applying for the scheme, the competition will now be biennial, moving in line with other BBC Competitions such as BBC Young Musician. The next BBC Young Composer competition takes place in 2023. 

In the mean time, the BBC is launching a new programme of live and online activity for teachers, schools and young people (available from July) offering a variety of opportunities to learn and create with BBC Young Composer, including a full day of workshops in the summer open to all young musicians interested in creating their own music aged 12 – 18. Further schools workshops will be on offer later in the year, with a focus on increasing skills and confidence in music composition.

BBC Young Composer alumni include Shiva Feshareki, Kate Whitley, Alissa Firsova, Mark Simpson, Tom Harrold, and Duncan Ward; recent alumni, including Grace-Evangeline Mason,  Xia Leon Sloane, and Sarah Jenkins have been commissioned by BBC Radio 3, BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Proms. 

The BBC Young Composer Network will also launch, which is a new database for teachers, schools, and partners to sign-up for access to Continuing Professional Development (teacher training) activities and resources. Sign up to the BBC Young Composer mailing list for further information on these resources and opportunities.