Now in its second year, the Commonwealth International Composition Award aims to encourage young musicians to write their own music, and to give young composers the skills they need to further their careers.
A shortlist of 10 finalists were chosen from the hundreds of entries, who then had their pieces recorded and performed by professional musicians.
The final was live-streamed on 4 May from the Royal Over-Seas League, London. This event featured live performances of the pieces and pre-recorded messages from the adjudicators.
The Young Adjudicators Prize was awarded to Devon Packer, aged 15 (Canada), and the Audience Prize, voted for by the public, was awarded to Falak Suteri, aged 15 (India). James Brew (Australia) was also highly commended.
Adjudicator Duncan Chapman said: ‘It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of this year’s competition. All of the young composers produced some stunning work, and I am looking forward to hearing what they make next as their journeys continue’.
Lincoln Abbotts, strategic director at ABRSM added ‘Congratulations to everyone involved in this competition, it is a real testament to your dedication, creativity, and love of music. ABRSM is a founding partner of this award, and it is great to see the number of entries rising year on year. I am reminded of the power of music to connect, unite, and bring people together.’
More information on the award and the 2021 finalists can be found here: cicompositionaward.com
