To mark the centenary of WW1 it was decided that entrants of the Young Composer of the Year Competition would use an aspect of WW1 as a focus for their stimulus.

Work was completed both as school lessons and also during after school works shops, where pupils were encouraged to consider how to express an aspect of life during the war.

Using a variety of perspectives conveyed by artists, writers, musicians and film makers as a starting point, the young composers developed expressive work that reflects on stimulus such as soldier’s struggles with day to day life in the trenches, of mother’s waving their children off to war and of the terror on the battle field. The result was thought provoking and sensitively constructed work that the adjudicators; Mr Doherty and Mr West were very impressed with.

The composer’s work had been divided into Junior and Senior sections. Sam (S4) was awarded Senior Young Composer of the Year, while Jennifer (S3) was awarded Junior Young Composer of the Year. Music scores by senior and junior competitors; Lewis Graham (S6) and Caleb Hunter (S3), were highly commended for their distinguished work.

The winning candidates work was performed at the WW1 commemoration evening in Williamwood with a very positive reception.

All material that was presented to the adjudicators illustrated compassion and awareness of the experiences of war. Well done to all candidates that took part.