DSO outreach work

Philip McKenna Young Composer Award

The winner of the 2011 award is Hong Kong-born composer Peter Lam. Peter started to learn the violin and piano from a yung age, and has developed a great passion on music . He has started to explore the field of composition in recent years and has composed and arranged music for various music ensembles in school. Peter is studying A-levels at the City of London Freemen’s School, where he also guided his house to win the school’s annual house music competition as a music captain. He is particularly interested in 20th century music and film music. His next project will be on experimental music. Peter’s winning entry ‘Toys Alive’ was premiered by the Dulwich Symphony Orchestra in the orchestra’s summer concert.

Toys Alive can be downloaded here.

The winner of the DSO young composer award for 2010 was Maria Neil-Smith. You can download Maria's winning score of 'The Jigsaw of Life'. The 2009-10 Award was made possible through the Philip McKenna Outreach bequest.

The winner of the DSO young composer award for 2009 was Leo Geyer. You can download Leo's winning score of 'The Night Watchman' and a recording of the DSO's performance of the work.

The Young Composer Award is for GCSE and A Level students to give them the opportunity of a live performance and a prize.The award is dedicated to the memory of Philip McKenna, who played with the orchestra for 24 years until his death in 2009.

The terms of the competition are very simple. Composers submit one composition, scored for at least seven orchestral instruments (any combination) and lasting no more than five minutes, by the closing date of 30 April. Submissions should be as a readable score and audio representation (the same requirements as exam boards). Submissions must be works not previously performed by an orchestra or awarded any prizes. The top three compositions will be short listed, and each of the three students will be invited to a separate workshop with a recognised composer. The two runners-up will receive £50 each and the winner will receive £100. The winning composition will be performed at the DSO summer concert.

Local composer John Holland -will judge the entries. He is winner of the British Composer Awards 2008 (Making Music Award), secretary of the Forum London Composers Group and Conductor of the Lambeth Wind Orchestra.

Contact yca@dulwichsymphonyorchestra.org.uk for more information.

Click here to download poster in pdf format

Link with Elmgreen School

Our outreach work took on a new phase with the DSO embarking on a new rehearsal venue - Elmgreen school. Naturally this gave us opportunity to work with the future generation of musicians, as well as children who possibly have not had a broad musical education up to this point. In January we took 10 musicians in to give workshops on Ma Vlast (My Homeland) to tie in with our March concert. The children were very enthusiastic, full of questions and applause and keen to compose their own music. Time being short, we had to compact listening, composing and performing but we look forward to extending our activities within the school next academic year and being a viable part of the wider music education available in the community.

DSO outreach in London Harmony