Well known composer Andrew Baker has been announced as the winner of the Foden’s Composer Competition.

Foden's launched their search to find winners in both an under 23 and open category in January in partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music, with 21 year old Dave Hanson seeing his work, ‘Aurora Borealis’ performed by the band at the recent Allan Withington International Conductors Course in Sandbach.

Atrium Phase

The judges for that event, Michael Fowles, Dr Peter Meechan and Philip Sparke, were joined by Paul Hindmarsh to decide on the winner of the open category, with the winning composition 'Atrium Phase' coming from the pen of Andrew Baker, who also wrote the well received 2009 Regional Championship Third Section set work, ‘The Once and Future King’.

Former Director of Music of the Coldstream Guards, and Brighouse & Rastrick MD, Ian McElligott was second for his 'Land of Prince Bishops', with third place awarded to Rob Foster for his 'Fantasy for Double Bass.'

Recorded and published

Andrew, who will receive a cheque for £500 from the Wilfred Heaton Trust, will now be able to hear his composition performed by Foden's at the RNCM Festival of Brass in January, as well as having it recorded on their next ‘Patron Choice’ CD release and be published by Prima Arts.

the winning composition 'Atrium Phase' coming from the pen of Andrew Baker, who also wrote the well received 2009 Regional Championship Third Section set work, ‘The Once and Future King’4BR

73 entries

Speaking on behalf of Foden's Band, competition coordinator Mark Wilkinson told 4BR: "We would like to thank all composers who submitted the 73 entries in both sections.

Out thanks also go to our panel of Judges, John Miller and the RNCM, David Hirst and Prima Arts, as well as the Wilfred Heaton Trust. Due to the popularity of the contest we will now look at running a similar event in two years time.2