Meet our 2022 Composer Competition Finalists!
Christopher Brooke
Age: 18
Location: Norwich
School: City of Norwich School
Hello! I’m an 18-year-old composer and instrumentalist from Norfolk, and I’ve been studying composition for 5 years now, primarily at Guildhall Young Artists Norwich with David Stowell. I started my musical career with the clarinet, and 11 years on I enjoy performing in recitals and larger ensembles. I like to involve myself in a broad range of musical styles; from more classical ensembles to jazz bands, rock/metal music, and more. I enjoy experimenting with my composition and drawing from varied influences in my work, which is why I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to delve into the world of choral composition - something very new to me.
Rosanna Fenn
Age: 17
Location: St Albans
School: Partimer’s School
I am an ex-chorister of the St Albans Abbey Girls’ Choir and currently a choral scholar at St Michael’s Church. I am currently undertaking the VOCES 8 Future Talent Award and I studied violin and piano at Junior Guildhall where I sang under Ralph Allwood. With the AGC, I have performed with the Bach Choir under Andrew Lucas, at the Royal Albert Hall under John Rutter and in a CD of works by William Mathias. We also premiered works by Judith Weir and Alec Roth. I greatly look forward to being mentored by an ORA singer who will perfect my compositional skills and guide me towards my future.
Benji Gronlie
Age: 16
Location: Oxford
School: The Cherwell School
I’m in the lower sixth at Cherwell, where I’m studying Music, Philosophy and English. I really enjoy playing the piano and the organ, and I’ve done grade 8 in both. I have been singing in a church choir since I was 8. I very much like composing, especially choral music, although I’ve tried to write some things for piano and string quartet too. I’m really looking forward to composing something inspired by a Renaissance piece and hearing it performed.
Erin Snape
Age: 18
Location: Oxford
School: Cheney School
I enjoy combining different styles of music in my work, drawing from my classical background and my passion for song writing and theatre. I was recently awarded a diploma for cello, and I study at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which gives me the opportunity to play and sing in all manner of ensembles, as well as explore electronic music. I have been singing as long as I can remember, so being able to hear my own work sung by a professional choir is a goal I have had for a long time, and I am very excited to have this opportunity!
Henry Nurse
Age: 18
Location: St Albans
School: Sandringham School
Having come from a background of jazz singing and writing for a rock band, taking part in a choral scholarship scheme over the past year has opened my eyes to the beauty of choral music and the huge variety one can achieve working within this medium. It is my hope that I can use this experience to develop my compositional idiom and fuse jazz harmony with a choral setting, and hopefully discover something new and unique along the way! Particularly exciting for me is the opportunity to combine my love of history with my passion for music by reinterpreting a centuries old canonised work for a contemporary audience. It will be an honour to work with expert professionals who will be able to guide my process and leave me a more experienced, adaptable and flexible composer.
Otis Kenward
Age: 14
Location: Oxford
School: The Cherwell School
Music is very important to me - it is a key part of who I am. I have played several different instruments throughout my life including violin, piano, guitar, and bouzouki in orchestras and bands, as well as singing in a choir and busking on the streets of Stockholm. I’ve been writing music (of course to varying degrees of quality) for as long as I can remember, both electronically and for traditional instruments. I am very excited to expand my compositional repertoire with choral music with ORA mentors.
Nawarucha Jiraekkaphob
Age: 17
Location: London
School: Ursuline High School
My interest in music started when I was a young child but I didn’t do much in music when I was in Thailand. Three years ago I moved to England and started playing the cello while studying Music GCSE. A year later I started composing and getting involved more in music at my school. These three years, I’ve been singing and playing cello in school concerts, masses, and many other events. I am so excited to learn and compose my first choral piece from ORA mentors and develop my next compositions. Many musicians and my teachers have inspired me a lot and I hope to be in the music industry whether it will be my future career or just my hobby, but I am sure I will continue doing it as music is what I love.
Eoin Jenkins
Age: 16
Location: Kingston
School: Tiffin School
I have been composing for many years, exploring my tastes in different styles of music, and am really looking forward to working with an ORA Singers Mentor, bringing my compositional skills and knowledge of choral harmonies and textures to the next level. I am grade 8 on clarinet and piano, and enjoy playing in a multitude of orchestras and ensembles. I’ve been singing since primary school and now sing in numerous choirs including the Tiffin Boys choir, so the idea of having my own piece performed by esteemed singers in a concert setting is extremely exciting, and one which I can’t wait to see fulfilled!
Harry Baines
Age: 16
Location: Glasgow
School: Balfron High School
Music has always been a huge part of my life. Ever since I started playing piano, I discovered my love for improvising and creating new music. I started formal composition lessons a few years ago and have never looked back. From mentorship, I hope to advance my composition skills and can’t wait to work with the ORA Singers!
Chan Huynh
Age: 17
Location: Essex
School: Southend High School for Girls
From a young age, I have always enjoyed singing and making up my own songs in my spare time. Throughout the years, this passion has developed into joining two of my school choirs,choosing voice as my main instrument for my music A Level and now becoming a finalist for this competition. I hope that with help from my mentor, I will be able to expand my boundaries, test my abilities and grow both as a person and as a composer during the time we have together.