The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff recently hosted the prestigious Stainer & Bell Award for Brass Composition.

The third running of the event was open to all music students at the RWCMD and was for a work of five to seven minutes in duration for brass quartet.

Six works

Six works were shortlisted for a recital finale in which the compositions were introduced by their respective composers before being performed by students.

Adjudication was made by Jeremy Aknai, Antony Kearns and Nicholas Williams.

First Prize

The first prize of £250 and publication of the winning work went to composition student Christopher Bond for 'Equinox for Four Euphoniums', which was performed by the outstanding, versatile quartet Euphony.

Highly commended

Lisa Pipkin was commended for 'The Pacific' whilst David Harrington was highly commended for his 'Three Fantasies', for compositions that would happily grace any brass chamber concert programme.

The score and parts for Equinox will be available for sale later this year.