Panufnik Composers Scheme

The Panufnik Composers Scheme offers six emerging composers each year the opportunity to write for a world-class symphony orchestra.

The scheme welcomes composers from a wide range of musical approaches and backgrounds. A diverse selection panel chooses composers who show a high level of compositional ability in writing notated work in contemporary classical or other musical genres, and the potential to write a three-minute full orchestral work for a public workshop.

From 2018 additional support and mentoring will be available to some composers who may have less experience in writing for classical orchestra than others selected for the scheme.

Guided by renowned composer Colin Matthews, and with other mentors offering tailored support, the scheme enables composers to experiment over time and develop their orchestral writing skills. Collaborative musical relationships develop with LSO players, and the resulting compositions are performed and discussed by the LSO and its Principal Guest Conductor François-Xavier Roth, in a public workshop rehearsal.

Two composers from the year are also commissioned to write an additional 10-minute or 5-minute piece, to be played by the LSO in a main-stage LSO concert at the Barbican. LSO Discovery sometimes offers additional commissions for other programme strands, including the Community Choir. See a list of commissions and composers below. 

The Panufnik Composers Scheme was devised by the Orchestra in association with Lady Panufnik in memory of her late husband, the composer Sir Andrzej Panufnik, and is generously supported by Lady Hamlyn and the Helen Hamlyn Trust.

'My composer husband, Andrzej Panufnik, received three commissions and recorded most of his symphonic music with the LSO. He worried about how young composers could nowadays attain essential experience with highest level orchestras: this project fulfils his dream.'
Lady Panufnik

> Latest scheme news
> Current participants
> Scheme alumni
> Ten and five minute commissions
> A history of the LSO's schemes for young composers

Applications are now open for the 2019/20 Scheme. Click here to find out more.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Latest News

Grace-Evangeline Mason commissioned to write for the LSO Community Choir
The LSO is delighted to announce that 2017 Panufnik Composer Grace-Evangeline Mason has been awarded the fourth annual LSO Community Choir Commission, to be premiered in November 2018. Read more here.

2017 commissions awarded
Each year the LSO Panufnik Composers Scheme commissions two participating composers to write works for performance in the LSO's main season. We are delighted to announce that James Hoyle and Sophya Polevaya have been awarded five- and ten-minute commissions respectively, to be performed in the 2019/20 season. Read more here.

2018 composers announced
Congratulations to Joel Järventausta, Cassie Kinoshi, Lara Poe, Ido Romano, George Stevenson and Alex Tay. Read more about the composers here. The workshop will take place on 25 March 2019 at LSO St Luke's.

World premiere dates announced for Donghoon Shin and Liam Mattison
The world premiere of 2016 alumni Donghoon Shin and Liam Mattison's 10-minute and 5-minute commissions will take place in the LSO's 2018/19 season: Donghoon's on 24 March 2019 conducted by François-Xavier Roth, and Liam's on 9 June 2019 conducted by Elim Chan. Tickets are now on sale.

Applications for 2018
Applications are now closed. We will be announcing the names of the successful composers early in 2018.

Amy Bryce's From First Breath world premiere
The world premiere of Amy Bryce's From First Breath, commissioned after the 2016 workshop in April, took place at LSO St Luke's on Friday 24 November 2017. The work was written for and performed by the LSO Community Choir and conductor David Lawrence.

2017 Workshop 
The six works by the 2017 composers were rehearsed by the LSO and François-Xavier Roth on Sunday 18 March 2018 in a public workshop at LSO St Luke's, along with those of Liam Mattison and Donghoon Shin, who were awarded the 10-minute and 5-minute commissions at the 2016 workshop. 

World premieres by Ewan Campbell and Patrick Giguère
At the 2015 workshop Ewan Campbell and Patrick Giguère were awarded the 10-minute and 5-minute commissions. Ewan's Frail Skies was performed by the LSO on Sunday 25 March 2018 conducted by François-Xavier Roth, and Patrick's Revealing received its premiere on Sunday 15 April 2018 conducted by Susanna Mälkki.

Donghoon Shin and Liam Mattison awarded the 2016 10-minute and 5-minute commissions
Congratulations to Donghoon Shin and Liam Mattison on their commissions, awarded after the 2016 workshop in April 2017. Their pieces will now be developed into works for the LSO to perform at a main season concert at the Barbican Hall. Read the full announcement.

Current participants

2018 Composers

The following composers will be taking part in the 2018 Panufnik Composers Scheme:

Joel Järventausta
Cassie Kinoshi
Lara Poe
Ido Romano
George Stevenson
Alex Tay

The 2018 composers with Camilla Panufnik, Colin Matthews, Christian Mason, Natalia Franklin Pierce and Liam Hennebry

2017 Composers 

James Hoyle, Grace-Evangeline Mason, Sophya Polevaya, Emma Wilde, Alexander Woolf and Han Xu took part in the 2017 Panufnik Composers Scheme.

The 2017 composers with Camilla Panufnik, Colin Matthews, Christian Mason and former scheme administrator Claire Mattison.

The 2017 scheme culminated with a public workshop on 18 March 2018, during which the new three-minute works were rehearsed by François-Xavier Roth and the London Symphony Orchestra at LSO St Luke’s.

• Donghoon Shin, Han Xue and Grace-Evangeline Mason Donghoon Shin, Han Xue and Grace-Evangeline Mason
• Liam Mattison and François-Xavier Roth Liam Mattison and François-Xavier Roth
• Colin Matthews and Alex Woolf Colin Matthews and Alex Woolf
• François-Xavier Roth François-Xavier Roth
• At the end of the day! At the end of the day!
• Scheme founder Lady Camilla Panufnik Scheme founder Lady Camilla Panufnik
• François-Xavier Roth talks with the composers François-Xavier Roth talks with the composers
• Donghoon Shin, Christian Mason and Han Xue Donghoon Shin, Christian Mason and Han Xue
• Camilla Panufnik with score Camilla Panufnik with score
• Colin Matthews, James Hoyle and Emma Wilde Colin Matthews, James Hoyle and Emma Wilde
• Emma Wilde Emma Wilde
• François-Xavier Roth François-Xavier Roth
• Donghoon Shin Donghoon Shin
• Christian Mason and Sophya Polevaya Christian Mason and Sophya Polevaya
• Liam Mattison Liam Mattison
•  

2016 scheme

Benjamin Ashby, Amy Bryce, Gonçalo Gato, Daniel Kidane, Liam Mattison and Donghoon Shin took part in the 2016 Panufnik Composers Scheme.

The 2016 scheme culminated with a public workshop on 20 April 2017 during which the new three-minute works were rehearsed by François-Xavier Roth and the London Symphony Orchestra at LSO St Luke’s.

After the workshop it was announced that Donghoon Shin was awarded the 10-minute commission and Liam Mattison was awarded the five-minute commission.

Photos from the 2016 workshop:

• François-Xavier Roth François-Xavier Roth
• Ewan Campbell Ewan Campbell
• Ewan Campbell & Christian Mason Ewan Campbell & Christian Mason
• LSO clarinets LSO clarinets
• Benjamin Ashby & Gareth Davies Benjamin Ashby & Gareth Davies
• Amy Bryce Amy Bryce
• Gonçalo Gato Gonçalo Gato
• François-Xavier Roth François-Xavier Roth
• Daniel Kidane Daniel Kidane
• Lady Camilla Panufnik Lady Camilla Panufnik
• Amy Bryce Amy Bryce
• François-Xavier Roth & Amy Bryce François-Xavier Roth & Amy Bryce
• Liam Mattison & Christian Mason Liam Mattison & Christian Mason
• François-Xavier Roth & Liam Mattison François-Xavier Roth & Liam Mattison
• Dudley Bright & Amy Bryce Dudley Bright & Amy Bryce
• Donghoon Shin & Carmine Lauri Donghoon Shin & Carmine Lauri
• Patrick Giguère & François-Xavier Roth Patrick Giguère & François-Xavier Roth
• François-Xavier Roth & Patrick Giguère François-Xavier Roth & Patrick Giguère
•  

Scheme alumni

2018: Joel Järventausta, Cassie Kinoshi, Lara Poe, Ido Romano, George Stevenson, Alex Tay
2017: James Hoyle~, Grace-Evangeline Mason^, Sophya Polevaya*, Emma Wilde, Alexander Woolf, Han Xu
2016: Benjamin Ashby, Amy Bryce^, Gonçalo Gato, Daniel Kidane, Liam Mattison~, Donghoon Shin*
2015: Patrick Giguère~, Deborah Pritchard^, Daniel Moreira, Daniel-Lewis Fardon, Bethan Morgan-Williams, Ewan Campbell*
2014: Michael Cryne, Michael Cutting, Vitalija Glovacytė, Alex Roth^, Jack Sheen*, Michael Taplin~
2013: Kim Ashton, Benjamin Graves, Jae-Moon Lee, James Moriarty~, Elizabeth Ogonek*, Richard Whalley
2012: Patrick Brennan~, Leo Chadburn, David Coonan, Bushra El-Turk, Ryan Latimer, Aaron Parker*
2011: Matthew Kaner*, Michael Langemann, Joanna Lee, Alastair Putt~, Duncan Ward, Mihyun Woo
2010: Nancie Eloise Gynn~, Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian, Christopher Mayo, Edward Nesbit*, Dan Stern, Elizabeth Winters~
2009: Edmund Finnis, Francisco Coll Garcia~, Fung Lam, Vlad Maistorovici*, Max de Wardener^, Toby Young
2008: Andrew McCormack*, Joshua Penduck, Matthew Sargeant, Sasha Siem+, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Raymond Yiu^
2007: Elspeth Brooke, Emily Howard+, Tom Lane, Charlie Piper*, Evis Sammoutis, Anjula Semmens
2006: Larry Goves, Emily Hall+, Christian Mason+^, Matthew Rogers, Martin Suckling+, Jason Yarde*+
2005 (pilot): Daniel Basford, John Douglas Templeton, Philip Venables

Key:
*10-minute commission
~5-minute commission
+UBS Soundscapes: Pioneers Commission
^LSO Artist Commission

Blog: A decade of the Panufnik Composers Scheme – where are they now?
Part I | Part II

Commissions

Each year two composers from the years' intake are commissioned to write an additional 10-minute or 5-minute commission, to be played by the LSO at a main-stage LSO concert at the Barbican. We are proud of the pantheon of works produced as a result of this scheme since 2007:

10-minute commissions:

Donghoon Shin title tbc (world premiere 24 March 2019)
Ewan Campbell Frail Skies (world premiere 25 March 2018)
Jack Sheen Lung (world premiere 25 September 2016)
Elizabeth Ogonek Sleep & Unremembrance (world premiere 13 March 2016)
Aaron Parker 51°58’N/1°19’E-300514 (world premiere 18 December 2014)
Matthew Kaner The Calligrapher's Manuscript (world premiere 19 September 2013)
Edward Nesbit Parallels (world premiere 29 November 2012)
Vlad Maistorovici Halo (world premiere 13 March 2011)
Andrew McCormack Incentive (world premiere 10 December 2009)
Charlie Piper The Twittering Machine (world premiere 26 October 2008)
Jason Yarde All Souls Seek Joy (world premiere 28 November 2007

5 minute commissions:

Liam Mattison title tbc (world premiere 9 June 2019)
Patrick Giguère Revealing (world premiere 15 April 2018)
Michael Taplin Ebbing Tides (world premiere 14 December 2016)
James Moriarty Windows (world premiere 6 December 2015)
Patrick Brennan Ballabile (world premiere 5 February 2015)
Alastair Putt Spiral (world premiere 12 June 2014)
Eloise Nancie Gynn Anahata (world premiere 24 March 2012)
Francisco Coll Hidd'n Blue (world premiere 15 January 2012)

LSO artist commissions:
Composers commissioned to write a piece for an artist or artists for performance at the Barbican or LSO St Luke’s.

Amy Bryce From First Breath (LSO Community Choir, 2016)
Deborah Pritchard There is a River (LSO Community Choir, 2015)
Alex Roth Elegy (LSO Community Choir, 2014)
Max de Wardener I Bilaskhani Todi (Kala Ramnath & LSO Strings, 2011) 
Raymond Yiu Maomao Yu (Lang Lang & Silk Strings, 2009)
Jason Yarde All Souls Seek Joy (Hugh Masekela, 2007)

A history of the LSO's schemes for young composers

The LSO Panufnik Composers Scheme is generously supported by Lady Hamlyn and The Helen Hamlyn Trust.