2026 Festival Results: Composition

We have been running the Composition discipline for four years now and each year we get more entrants. This year we had 13 entries, which were submitted online and adjudicated via Zoom.

There was a prize of £100 awarded to the 'Adjudicator’s Choice', Hannah Lam, in the instrumental class. Many congratulations, Hannah! Evan Widjaja came a very close second with his 'String Quintet'.

Kaishav Khosla won the Under 16's class with 'Shadows Of Death'.

Jenny Ewington won the Adult Voice class with her beautiful carol, 'Love Came Down'.

Evan Widjaja won the Ethnic Showcase Adult Class with 'Scherzo Rachenitsa' and the adjudicator awarded this piece 'Exceptional'. Chapman Shum came second in this class with his 'Impressions Of A Waltz'.

Our adjudicator, Adrian Goss, commented on the extremely high standard of all the entries, which included wonderful pieces for recorder ensemble (Janet Baldacci), piano (Chapman Shum, Nicholas Duck-Fonalleras and Kaishav Khosla), instruments (Evan Widjaja, Ian Purves, Francesca Hussain, Hannah Lam, Alexander Weidmann) and guitar (Nathaniel Hayes).

The entries displayed a remarkably high standard and the Zoom adjudication, where we had the chance to listen to parts of the pieces, was most enjoyable.

Thanks to everyone that participated this year. We hope to run the Composition competition again next year, so if you feel you could write some music, we look forward to receiving your submission.

Stella Reburn

Convenor

Composition