Finalists
The three finalists in our 2016 Composing Competition.
Katrina Toner
Sunlight in Photographs
Katrina Toner is 18 years old, and is currently in her final year of secondary school. She studies composition with David Sutton-Anderson.…moreSebastian Skelly
Circus After Midnight
Sebastian Skelly, 20, is coming to the end of a threeyear degree course in Creative Music Technology at the University of Surrey.…moreFindlay Spence
Perpetuum Mobile
Findlay Spence was born in 1997 in Edinburgh and now lives on the Black Isle in the Highlands of Scotland. In 2013, Findlay.…moreFinalists' Concert
The Finalists' Concert was held in The Great Hall, Goldsmiths, University of London on Tuesday 19th April 2016 in front of an invited audience.
The Compositions were performed by the English Young Artists' Sinfonia, conducted by Robert Pepper MBE.
Full Programme
- Katrina Toner: Sunlight in Photographs
- Sebastian Skelly: Circus After Midnight
- Findlay Spence: Perpetuum Mobile
- Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A (Italian)
Compositions were judged on the night by the three judges, Edward Gregson, Richard Sisson and Scott Stroman and a winner was chosen.
The successful composition was Circus After Midnight by Sebastian Skelly.
Terms and Conditions
• By entering the Competition, the entrant will be deemed to accept these terms and conditions and entrants agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges, which shall be final and binding.
• The entrant may enter the ESO Composing Competition by submitting a completed entry form obtained from here.
• Entries must be sent in a Sibelius file to competition@englishschoolsorchestra.org.
• The Competition ran from 1st September 2015 and the closing date was 28th February 2016.
• Entries received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• There is no fee to enter the Competition.
• Entrants must be aged 14-25 and a UK resident.
• Only one composition per entrant will be accepted.
• Each participant may submit one composition lasting a maximum of 8 minutes, which must be written for a designated Chamber Orchestra instrumentation (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timps and strings).
• By entering the Competition, the entrant is agreeing to let ESO use their name and composition in public, should they be shortlisted.
• A shortlist of three or more compositions will be prepared by the director of ESO.
• The shortlisted compositions were announced on the ESO website and were performed by the English Young Artists' Sinfonia on 19th April 2016 at Goldsmiths College, London.
• After the performance, the panel of judges chose the winning composition. This was announced at the concert and on the ESO website.
• The prize consists of £250 for the winning Composition.
• The prize is as described and no cash or other alternative will be offered.
• The Winner agrees to participate in any reasonable publicity for the Competition as well as any other promotional events.
• The Winner agrees that the Composition can be used in promotional activity related to the competition including hosting it on ESO, PRS for Music, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and Peter Ustinov Foundation websites and the winner agrees to up to three performances of the Composition as part of such promotional activity.
• Entrants will not be able to withdraw their composition once entered.
• Personal details of entrants, such as email and phone numbers, will be kept confidential by ESO and not passed to third parties. The name of the shortlisted composers will be revealed by ESO in publicity and programmes for the concert.
• Any further enquiries can be made via email to competition@englishschoolsorchestra.org.These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and each party submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.