Applicants are invited to write a short work for two violins, cello and harpsichord as a 21st-century response to baroque music using the same scoring.
The award is open to composers resident in the UK, and who are aged either 18 and under, or 19–25.
The Award Day – 15 May 2025 in York – will include a daytime workshop for shortlisted candidates led by Dr Christopher Fox, and a performance by The Brook Street Band of the shortlisted compositions at the National Centre for Early Music. Judging the works will be a panel comprising Dr Delma Tomlin, MBE (director, NCEM), Les Pratt (producer, BBC Radio 3) and Tatty Theo (cellist, The Brook Street Band).
The Brook Street Band will premiere the winning works in October 2025 as part of the love:Handel festival; the performances will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Early Music Show and BBC Sounds.
The closing date for registration is 12 noon on Friday 7 February; the deadline for submitting scores is 12 noon on Friday 7 March. The shortlist will be announced on Friday 4 April.
Terms and conditions and details of how to take part in the NCEM Young Composers Award 2025 are available at youngcomposersaward.co.uk or email info.composers@ncem.co.uk.
