Karl Jenkins to judge Arts Club's £4,000 classical music award
15 October 2014, 15:25
Calling all young musicians: entries for the Classical Music Award, launched by the Arts Club in 2013 to celebrate the best performer aged between 18-30 in the UK, close on Friday 17 October.
The Arts Club-Karl Jenkins Classical Music Award, as it is now known, is being held in association with Classic FM.
Jenkins, the world’s most performed living classical composer, will be joined by a judging panel consisting of internationally renowned soloists Emma Johnson (clarinet) and Julian Lloyd-Webber (cello), Carol Barratt (eminent composer of educational music), Kathryn Enticott (Senior Vice President & Managing Director at IMG Artist Management) and Sam Jackson (Managing Editor, Classic FM).
Jenkins said he was launching the prize to fill a gap in music education left by the government: "For some time now, it has been my intention to launch an annual music award to help young instrumentalists in the pursuit of their careers.
"I was privileged to have been educated (Gowerton Grammar School, Cardiff University and the Royal Academy of Music) at a time when both academic and music tuition were free, or grant assisted, to postgraduate level. Regrettably, this is no longer the case and it is shameful that there is no desire, by governments of all persuasions, to invest in the cultural future of our society.
"I am therefore thrilled to have found a partner in The Arts Club and it is with great pleasure that we announce the inaugural ‘The Arts Club – Karl Jenkins Music Award’ in association with Classic FM, who, we are delighted to say, have agreed to come on board. The award will initially run for three years and is open to all instrumentalists aged between 18 and 30."
The winner will receive £4,000 and the opportunity to make a recording of their performance piece plus a short work especially composed by Jenkins. The recording will be played to millions of classical music lovers on Classic FM. One runner-up will receive a cash prize of £1,000.
The competition is open to 18–30 year-olds. To enter, download this form. Entries must be received by Friday 17 October.
