Stainer & Bell Award for Brass Composition 2010

On 14 May 2010, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff hosted the first Stainer & Bell Award for Brass Composition. The competition was open to all music students at the RWCMD and was for a work of five to seven minutes in duration, for solo brass instrument (with or without piano accompaniment).

Seven works were shortlisted for a recital finale in which the compositions were introduced by their respective composers before being performed by students from the College. Stainer & Bell's Richard Bullen, Antony Kearns and Nicholas Williams adjudicated from a stylistically varied selection of exciting new pieces for cornet, trumpet, trombone and euphonium.

The first prize of £250 and publication of the winning work went to second year composition student James Flight for A Short Sonata for Euphonium and Piano. Though James is not a brass player himself, sharing a house with three Euphonium players had clearly helped him understand the instrument thoroughly. His superb, idiomatic writing demonstrated its flexibility and virtuosic capabilities, as well as highlighting the beautiful mellow tones available throughout its range. The exciting, finely-crafted Short Sonata is in three movements is now published by Stainer & Bell.

Although the judges had planned to award only one prize, they so much enjoyed Benjamin Vaughan's work for solo cornet Ar y Mynydd Prydferth Cymreig (On the Beautiful Welsh Mountain) that they offered to publish it as well. A colourful, programmatic piece in three movements, depicting scenes of Welsh mountains, valleys, caves and an encounter with a legendary red dragon, the composition is great fun both to play and listen to. [UPDATE] This title is now published and available for sale here, or through your local music shop.

Many congratulations to all who took part and special thanks to Kevin Price, RWCMD Head of Brass for organising the event.