A trio of talented composers will have their works premiered by Cory on Saturday evening (May 20th) in Cardiff, in their bid to become the 2017 winner of the RWCMD Cory Composition Prize.

The competition once again attracted entries from all corners of the banding globe, with an eventual short-list of three being chosen for performance in a special concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music (7.30pm).

Prize

The winner will not only receive a cash prize from sponsors Kapitol Promotions, but will also see their work published by Wright & Round and recorded by the band on one of their forthcoming CDs. The piece will also be performed by Cory in concerts throughout the coming year.

Outstanding

MD Philip Harper told 4BR that the standard of entries was outstanding and that it had been a difficult decision to pick just three for the final.

"Once again we have been delighted by the remarkable response,"he said. "The chance to write a work for Cory Band certainly gets the compositional juices flowing and the works we received this year were outstanding.

It was a hard task to pick the three finalists — and I'm sure the audience will enjoy listening to each of them."

The chance to write a work for Cory Band certainly gets the compositional juices flowing and the works we received this year were outstandingPhilip Harper

Premieres

'Corrida' by David Robinson takes its inspiration from the colour and excitement of a Spanish bullfight, whilst 'The Roar of the Khamsin' by Paul Saggers follows the evocative path of an Arabic wind. 'Tarot! Tortuous Tarot!' by Andy Wareham meanwhile looks into the dark elements of the occult and the art of tarot card reading.

The final decision on which piece takes the title will be down to Philip Harper alongside fellow panel members Nigel Seaman and composer Liz Lane. The decision will be reached in the interval with the work given a second performance alongside a Welsh premiere of Philip's own, 'Destination Moon'.