7 November, 2002 Press releases

An exciting new national competition for music students is launched today (7 November). composeyourself celebrates the unique collaboration of National Orchestra Week (8-16 March 2003) and National Science Week (7-16 March 2003) and gives students an opportunity to have their composition performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and win the British Antarctic Survey Music Award of £600.

Inspired by today’s Antarctic science, composeyourself , will interest students in the fascinating frozen continent exploring scientific themes such as ocean life, the wandering albatross, atmospheric waves, ice and whistlers.

Registration forms and further information can be downloaded from the organisers’ websites at: www.antarctica.ac.uk or www.the-ba.net/nsw or www.nationalorchestraweek.org.uk. Forms must be returned to Paula Wallace at the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) by 16 December. Deadline for completed entries is 31 January 2003.

Issued by British Antarctic Survey Press Office, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET.

National Orchestra Week is presented by the Association of British Orchestras (Contact Adam Powell tel. 020 7287 0333, email adam@abo.org.uk) in association with Making Music (Contact Robin Osterley tel. 0870 872 3300, email Robin@makingmusic.org.uk)

National Science Week is organised by the BA. Contact Paula Wallace tel. 0207 973 3074, email Paula.Wallace@the-ba.net

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

composeyourself is open to students across the UK studying music at A/AS level or Higher/Advanced Higher level. Winning composer(s) will be invited to the première of their work performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra on Sunday 16 March 2003 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Return rail travel, courtesy of Qjump.co.uk and 5-star hotel accommodation, courtesy of Hotel Brokers and Thistle Hotels, will be provided for up to 6 people.

Music students should enter the competition through their school or college and may write the composition individually or in groups. An intention to submit a composition must first be registered, after which time entry forms will be sent to all entrants registered. Only registered entries will be accepted by the judging panel, which will be made up of a number of eminent individuals from the areas of science, music and the arts.

The composition should take account of the following points:

  • The work can be in any musical form or structure. For example, a fanfare with elements of ostinato and repetition may be a good starting point.
  • The work should be around 2 minutes in length and not longer than 2½ minutes.
  • The work should be scored for a maximum of 17 players and a minimum of 5 players, comprising any combination of the instruments stated in the competition rules
  • Completed entries should include a written score, programme notes and a recording.
  • The composition should be based on today’s Antarctic Science, exploring such themes as ocean life, the wandering albatross, atmospheric waves, ice or whistlers. For information on these areas students should explore this website. Alternatively all UK secondary schools (or equivalent) can claim a free copy of the BAFTA-award winning Antarctic Waves CD-ROM, which uses the five areas of research highlighted above as inspiration for music composition. For more information on Antarctic Waves visit www.antarcticwaves.com

More information is available from each of the following websites:

General information about British Antarctic Survey – British Antarctic Survey (BAS) undertakes a world-class programme of science in the Antarctic and related regions, addressing key global and regional issues through research, survey and monitoring. BAS also helps to discharge the UK’s international responsibilities under the Antarctic Treaty System. British Antarctic Survey is part of the Natural Environment Research Council. British Antarctic Survey has a continuing commitment to education. Together with co-producers the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, it won the Geography Association’s Gold Certificate for best new educational resource with its Antarctic Schools Pack. For more information on BAS please explore this website.

General information about National Orchestra Week – National Orchestra Week (NOW) is presented by the Association of British Orchestras and Making Music to promote the diversity of live instrumental music across the UK. In 2003, NOW will be in its seventh year and as before, thousands of musicians up and down the country will be taking part from professional, semi-professional and amateur orchestras and music groups, as well as many youth and school orchestras and ensembles. Events being lined up for 2003 look sure to exceed the 150 events that took place during NOW 2002. NOW 2003 kicks off on Saturday 8 March, signalling the start to nine days of special events ranging from family concerts and open rehearsals to pre-concert activities and a special series of performances in the most intriguing venues! Visit the website at: www.nationalorchestraweek.org.uk

General information about National Science Week – Now in its tenth year, National Science Week is co-ordinated by the BA, providing a national context for the thousands of events taking place throughout the UK from the 7-16 March 2003. The BA has been promoting awareness and appreciation of science, engineering and technology for well over 150 years. The BA’s Young People’s Programme includes a national network of science clubs. For more information visit the website at: www.the-ba.net