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| Daniel Kidane |
After being placed on hiatus in 2023 owing to funding issues, Cheltenham Music Festival’s highly regarded Composer Academy is returning for 2025, the festival’s 80th birthday year.
The talent development programme for early-career composers will take place over an intensive five-day course at Syde Manor in Gloucestershire, alongside the Festival itself. Under the supervision of award-winning alumnus of the Academy, Daniel Kidane, composers will participate in workshops, performances, sessions and talks. The programme offers key showcase and development opportunities for its participants.
As well as attending premieres and world-class recitals at the Festival itself, Composer Academy participants will have the opportunity to write a short work for performance before a live audience by the Carice Singers and conductor, George Parris. This showcase concert will also feature Q&A sessions, offering composers the chance to receive first-hand thoughts and feedback on their music.
Jack Bazalgette, the festival’s artistic director comments, “It’s a really unique opportunity for new composers to meet like-minded people, experience remarkable music and learn an amazing amount – all in the space of a week and in the context of one of the world’s most respected festivals.“
The Composer Academy will take place from 7-11 July 2025. Applications open online on 25 April and close at 5pm on 12 May. Early-career composers interested in applying should visit the Cheltenham Festivals website for more information.
