Three Choirs Festival

2023 marks the fourth year of this ground-breaking scheme developed by ORA Singers, as it seeks to provide first-class coaching in composition free of charge to students from state-educated backgrounds.

ORA Singers has been thrilled to see a sharp increase of interest in the programme since its inception in 2019, receiving a record number of applications from students across the UK for 2023.

The scheme sees 10 selected ‘Young Composers’ receive 10 hours of free, one-to-one mentoring with professional composers, who develop their skills in composition whilst helping them write a brand new piece for ORA Singers. Throughout the process, mentors identify and develop areas of need or interest, helping the Young Composers develop into confident and mature composers, as they guide them through the process of writing a new choral work.

Half-way through the scheme, Young Composers are invited to a Workshop, where they are given further coaching on Western Choral Composition from a Guest Composer, and they have their ideas and sketches workshopped by ORA Singers; offering further specialist tips and advice from a singer’s perspective. The Workshop offers the Young Composers a rare and unique chance to work with professionals in the industry, learning about the unique challenges of writing for voices.

The Young Composers’ programme comes to a close with the Showcase Concert. ORA Singers is thrilled to have partnered with the Three Choirs Festival, who will host the Showcase Concert in Gloucester Cathedral on 23rd July. The Showcase Concert will see ORA Singers perform and record the Young Composers’ completed works live in front of an audience and a panel of industry experts. Each Young Composer will receive detailed feedback from the panel, along with a video record of their piece to kick-start their portfolios. The Showcase will also feature a prize-giving.

The 10 selected Young Composers are:

Rich Mandal, Year 12, Denbigh School, Milton Keynes

Hannah Lam, Year 12, Westcliff High School for Girls, Essex

Tristan Ng, Year 11, Bourne Grammar School, Lincolnshire

Jack Brierley, Year 11, St. Aidan's Church of England High School, Harrogate

Joshua Laye-Sion, Year 11, Christ's School Richmond, London

Cara Wilkins, Year 10, St Philomenas Catholic High School for Girls, London

Holly Bacon, Year 12, Kendrick School, Reading

Advaith Jagannath, Year 11, Tiffin School, London

Emerald Light, Year 12, Silverdale School, Sheffield

Bella Blood, Year 12, York College, York

The 2023 Young Composers’ programme has been generously supported by Signatur, The Symondson Foundation, and The Thistle Trust. ORA Singers is pleased welcome Scala Radio as the Official Media Partner of the Young Composers’ scheme.