Thirty young composers from UK state schools selected by ORA Singers

The scheme, launched in 2018, gives students the opportunity to practice their skills, develop ideas collaboratively and gain confidence in their musical ability. 

From a pool of entries from around the UK, the ORA Singers has selected 10 finalists who will be enrolled on the mentoring scheme with composers Ken Burton, Janet Wheeler, Richard Allain, Kim Porter and Harry Escott.

The finalists are: 

Pip Alpin, 18, Warton (Ripley St Thomas CofE Academy)
Ceri Amison, 17, Newbury (St Bartholomew’s School)
Raj Bhaumik, 17, Milngavie (Douglas Academy)
Jacob Cooper, 16, Carnforth (Queen Elizabeth School)
Hannah Doyle, 17, Blackpool (Blackpool Sixth Form College)
Ana Geoghegan, 18, Wimbledon (Ursuline High School)
Aidan MacLean, 17, Lisburn (Friends’ School)
Samuel Cole Mpengo, 18, West Ham (School 21 and 621)
Samuel Oliver-Sherry, 16, Netherton (St Michael’s Church of England High School)
Sequoia Ralph, 18, Fulham (West London Free School)

All finalists will work with their mentors to create new works, which will be premiered in the Competition Final Concert, set to take place on 24 July 2021. More information about each finalist can be found here. 

In addition, 20 ORA Apprentices have been selected for the first time. They will be enrolled on a scheme of compositional support led by composer Rory Wainwright Johnston. 

The ORA Apprentices are: 

Harry Baines, 15, Balfron (Balfron High School)
Zaira Christa Barakat, 16, Hammersmith (The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School)
Charlotte Burrows, 17, Carnforth (Queen Elizabeth School)
Archie Collingridge Watt, 17, Lochwinnoch (Douglas Academy)
Isaac Cook, 17, Harlow (The Hertfordshire & Essex High School & Science College)
Hannah Day, 15, Prudhoe (Prudhoe Community High School)
Prince Farron Shodipe, 15, Brockley (Harris Academy Peckham)
Stephen Frith, 13, Southwell (Minster School Southwell)
Megan Gillett, 16, Sevenoaks (Tonbridge Grammar School)
Edmund Griffiths, 14, Westcliff-on-Sea (Westcliff High School for Boys)
Maisy Harnett, 15, Greenford (Twyford Church of England High School)
Isabelle Hussey, 18, York (York College)
Anna Middleton, 17, Great Chesterford (Saffron Walden County High School)
Emma Millward, 17, Castletown (Castle Rushen High School)
James Preller, 16, Finchley (The Latymer School)
Bill Reason, 16, Hitchin (The Priory School)
Lucy Robertson, 17, Newbury (St Bartholomew’s School)
Frank Santeugini, 15, Chiswick (West London Free School)
Hattie Twigger-Ross, 16, Guildford (George Abbot School)
Phoebe Wakefield, 17, Welwyn Garden City (Sir John Lawes School)

Matthew Beale, chief executive of ORA Singers, said: ‘We have heard from so many talented and enthusiastic composers, and have been so excited by their love of creating music and desire to learn more. 

‘We are thrilled to have been able to offer them this unique opportunity, and to provide for them an experience that could help them develop professionally, socially, and creatively. We cannot wait to see where these young composers go in the future.’ 

www.orasingers.co.uk