In Flanders Fields Wins 2012 Composers Competition

The organisers of the biennial Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival celebrated the winner of their 2012 Composers Competition this weekend, which had over twice as many entries as the previous event.

The Composers Competition is held every other year to alternate with the biennial Festival and provide new repertoire for choirs to sing at the Festival.

The prize-giving Presentation Evening took place on Friday September 14, at Truro College - which hosted the reception as part of its support of the Festival.  It was attended by sponsors, patrons, board and company members of the charity.

The competition, run over a five month period, was open to any UK resident composer, who was asked to submit an entirely new composition for a four part male choir. Thirty one composers submitted 36 entries, compared to 16 composers (19 entries in 2010), and 12 composers (just 12 entries) in 2008.

Patrick J Lee from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, was awarded the Harold & Thelma Miller Trophy for Composition (donated by Dr. Roy and Mrs. Christine Wales) and the £1000 prize. It was presented by Michael Galsworthy, co-President of the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival and Vice Lord- Lieutenant of Cornwall, to his wife Sarah, as Patrick had a long standing playing commitment in a professional quintet in the Saltaire Festival.

Mrs Lee commented, "I am delighted to accept the Trophy on behalf of my husband. Dr Humphreys was extremely generous in his remarks about Patrick's work."

Mr Lee's winning entry, titled "In Flanders Fields", was performed jointly by Men of Good Fortune and Eight in a Bar, conducted by Naomi Carne and accompanied by Kathryn Downing.

David Peters, Chairman of Festival Board of Directors said, "We were absolutely delighted with number of entries this year which has trebled over the last three competitions.  The Composers Competition is growing in popularity and it is a reflection of the great things to come in next year's Festival."

Peter Davies, Festival Director, explained that it was the second time that Patrick had won the competition. In 2010, his winning piece, "Dust", was then awarded the prize by that year's international adjudicator, Jeffrey Wynn Davies.

Peter said, "It is both extra-ordinary and wonderful that Patrick has been awarded the prize by two different judges. It is unique in the history of the competition and a very clear indication of the quality of Patrick's work. The next such competition will be in 2014."

The internationally renowned conductor, arranger and composer of male voice choir music - Dr. Alwyn Humphreys, MBE - adjudicated and announced the winner.  Dr Humphreys is Conductor Emeritus of the internationally-acclaimed Morriston Orpheus Choir, having conducted it for 25 years. His arrangements for male choirs are sung by choirs worldwide and he has conducted concerts in the most prestigious venues across the globe.

With 2013 seeing the sixth biennial Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival, the countdown is already under way, with strong interest once again expressed by choirs from overseas as well as in the UK.

The six-day 2011 festival – Europe's largest of its kind – broke records across the board, with well over 3,000 singers from 62 choirs, including 13 from overseas, performing at 30 venues across Cornwall.  Participants included 29 choirs from Cornwall.

The 2013 event will take place 2nd-6th May 2013 in venues around the county.  Further information is available at http://www.cimvcf.org.uk

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