Young Composers’ Competition Winners Announced
Results have been announced in the NYBB’s second biannual Young Composers’ Competition. The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain set out to find six new works for brass band (three winners and three runners-up) from talented young composers aged 30 or under. The NYBBGB has announced with delight that this year’s three winning compositions are ‘Variations on an Enclosure’ by Will Everitt (20), ‘Betws-y-Coed' by Nina Martin (20) and ‘Nocturnal Dances’ by Samuel Thackray (21).
The NYBBGB received works from twenty-nine aspiring composers from all over the world. Earlier this year, The NYBBGB’s panel of esteemed judges, Martyn Brabbins, composer Gavin Higgins and The NYBBGB’s Director of Artistic Planning Dr Robert Childs, shortlisted works from ten gifted young composers as their competition finalists.
Will Everitt’s winning composition ‘Variations on an Enclosure’ is, as the name suggests, developed out of a single four-note cell. This cell was derived from Will’s explorations into the use of ‘enclosures’ in jazz melody and improvisation. Throughout the work, Will explores a wider palette of expression by balancing the lyricism that is so idiomatic to brass band writing with a more jazz-orientated harmonic language.
Nina Martin’s winning composition ‘Betws-y-Coed' is Nina’s first piece for brass band and was inspired by her first solo backpacking trip to Betws-y-Coed in Wales. Whilst exploring, she wrote musical ideas based on the bubbling of the river, the contour of the surrounding hills and the feeling of joy when immersed in the natural habitat. The theme of the work can be considered to represent both a tragic romance and a battle between the human race and the natural world.
Samuel Thackray’s winning composition ‘Noctural Dances’ started life as a collection of energetic yet slightly eerie dance-like ideas, representing a kaleidoscope of imagined scenes in a nocturnal cityscape. Will uses an unusual structure, with the most energetic writing gradually subsiding as the stillness of night slowly takes over.
Martyn Brabbins, Chair of The NYBBGB’s panel of judges and Summer 2025 Youth Band Guest Conductor said, “The young composers gave us real pleasure with their work – such a rich variety of styles, experience and intent. While the jury might have welcomed a few more radical approaches, there’s no doubt the future of brass band music is bright. Congratulations to all and bravo to the prize winners!”
The three competition winners will each receive a cash prize of £750 and a mentoring session with one of the competition judges. In addition, all three winning pieces will be performed on 9th August 2025 by The NYBBGB at their summer concert which takes place this year in the magnificent Amaryllis Fleming Hall of the Royal College of Music, London under the baton of Maestro Martyn Brabbins. Tickets for this concert are available now here
The competition judging panel also recognises three compositions as runner-up winners in this year’s competition: ‘Storms of Light’ by Camille Chiu (25), ‘Echoes’ by Lennert Van Laenen (20) and ‘Concert Prelude: Ikigai’ by Andy Wareham (30).
Finally, two young composer’s works are highly commended by the judges: ‘High Street Life’ by George Swayne (18) and ‘Marche Triomphale’ by Easher Austin (14). Each competition runner-up will receive a cash prize of £250 and the opportunity to receive feedback via a one-to-one coaching phone call with a member of the judging panel.
And as the youngest ever entrant of the Young Composers’ Competition, Easher’s work will also be performed by The NYBBGB Children’s Band on 1st August 2025 during the Band’s summer concert at Oundel School, Peterborough. Tickets for this concert are available now here
You can find out more information about all ten competition finalists, including short videos of each finalist talking about their shortlisted composition here
