Welcome To The Aberdeen Music Prize
Welcome to the third University of Aberdeen Music Prize - an international celebration of musical composition. Once again the weekend offers an exciting programme of events, many of which we are pleased to present in association with sound.
In November 2008, the University of Aberdeen, in association with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and BBC Radio 3 launched the third worldwide competition for composers. Entries came in from 35 countries as far afield as Peru to Russia and South Africa to Israel – and the five finalists join us for the Music Prize weekend in Aberdeen 20 - 22 November 2009.
At the heart of the activities over the coming days is the judging of the 2009 University of Aberdeen Music Prize by distinguished international composer James MacMillan. After the workshop sessions and weekend performances, one competition finalist will be offered a £5,000 commission for a full orchestral piece to be performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 2010 and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
The University of Aberdeen Music prize is one of the most talked-about composition prizes in the world, and by joining forces with the sound festival of new music, Aberdeen is firmly established as a centre for creative excellence.
2007 winner, Jun Lee, has established himself within the contemporary music scene and has since worked on a variety of projects, including a recent commission to re-orchestrate Apollo for a screening of For All Mankind at the Science Museum in London.
Will this year's winner go on to join the ranks of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart?
I hope you enjoy this wonderful weekend of music.
Dr Paul Mealor FRSA
Director, University of Aberdeen Music Prize
