Composer Derri Lewis is the joint winner of the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) Young Composers Competition 2019 in association with BBC Radio 3.
I’m so excited to have won the @yorkearlymusic Composers Competition! 🎉
I’ve had such a fantastic time in #york with 7 amazing composers, @fantasticdrfox @bonaomi1 & @LiamByrneVdG! Thank you all so much! 🎶
I can’t wait to hear WALLS OF BRASS again in #Bristol 🤩 https://t.co/LaWoswFt3x pic.twitter.com/V9uKDZBMQ7
— derri joseph lewis 🏳️🌈 (@derri_lewis) May 10, 2019
His winning composition will be broadcast on Radio 3 this autumn.
Third year composition and creative music technology student Derri won the competition alongside fellow winning composer, Sarah Cattley.
Eight composers from across the UK spent two days together workshopping new music for bass viol and electronics with early music expert Liam Byrne and composer Christopher Fox.
“Working with Christopher and Liam, and the seven other amazing young composers created an amazing sense of community, and was a brilliant learning experience,” said Derri.
His winning composition, Walls of Brass, focuses on different ways to create the illustion of multiple voices performing at once.
“It’s been so wonderful to explore new ideas in a safe environment and make new friends at the same time.”
Liam was joined on the judging panel by producer of Radio 3’s Early Music Show, Les Pratt, and Delma Tomlinson, director of NCEM.
Liam Byrne, will perform Walls of Brass in Bristol’s alternative venue, Glitch, in a concert recorded by BBC Radio 3.
The shortlisted pieces were all live-streamed and are available on the NCEM website.
can’t believe it’s the end of another term at #RWCMD! reflecting on all the wonderful opportunities I’ve had in the last few months 🎶 highlights definitely include working with the wonderful @BerkeleyEnsembl @BBCNOW #CompositionWales2019 #look_out and #ChamberWinds! ☀️ pic.twitter.com/2gO3Wh9kFu
— derri joseph lewis 🏳️🌈 (@derri_lewis) March 29, 2019
Among Derri’s many achievements this year: he was among the eight composers, five from RWCMD, to win the opportunity to workshop their compositions with BBC NOW at BBC Hoddinott Hall as part of the Composition Wales project.
He was joined by fellow RWCMD composers Sylvia Hall, Jasper Dommett, Daniel Long and former College double bass student Ashley John Long.
Today's the day for our 8 successful #CompositionWales composers – Stage 1 gets underway with an open workshop at BBC Hoddinott Hall @theCentre
Welcome 👋
Charlie Barber
Jasper Dommett
Daniel Hall
Jordan Hirst
Derri Joseph Lewis
Ashley Long
David Roche
Sylvia Villa pic.twitter.com/YzVV93BTbr— BBC NOW (@BBCNOW) January 30, 2019
Derri is continuing his studies at Zurich conservatoire next term.
a fabulous end to the year at #RWCMD! 🏴
so great to finally hear my 3 o Ganeoun Byrion written for #JeremyHuwWilliams 🎶🎹
and congrats to the @RWCMD #SymphonyOrchestra bringing the house down with some brill @HellTweet (Short Ride), @TurnageTime and apocalyptic #Copland! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0zUOC4DyiF
— derri joseph lewis 🏳️🌈 (@derri_lewis) June 28, 2019
The main image shows Derri with graduate and pianist Conal Bembridge-Sayers, discussing his contemporary opera, Spinning Jenny, which he composed with Tayla-Leigh Payne. This was performed as part of Atmospheres, the College’s new music festival
Photo: Kirsten McTernan
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