Tag: Tatty Theo

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Kit McCarthy & Avram Harris win National Centre for Early Music Young Composers Awards on day with The Brook Street Band

National Centre for Early Music Young Composers Award winners Avram Harris, left and Kit McCarthy at the NCEM on the awards day. Picture: Charlie Kirkpatrick

First published on May 17 2025

KIT McCarthy and Avram Harris have won the 2025 National Centre for Early Music Young Composers Awards.

Kit received the prize for the 19 to 25 age group with his composition Molten Kaleidoscope; Avram triumphed in the 18 years and under category with Transient Variations.

The final of the 18th Young Composers Award was held at the NCEM, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York, presented in partnership with BBC Radio 3, on May 15.

This year, the organisers invited aspiring young composers to compose a new trio sonata movement for two violins, cello, and harpsichord. Composers were asked to explore a particular musical world and character in their piece lasting three to  four minutes, focusing  especially on the interplay between the instruments, and could take a movement from Handel’s Opus 5 Trio Sonatas as a reference point.

Compositions by the eight young finalists were workshopped during the day by composer Professor Christopher Fox and The Brook Street Band, led by cellist Tatty Theo. In the evening, the pieces were performed by The Brook Street Band in a public performance at the NCEM, from where the performance was live streamed to ensure that friends and families were able to join in.

The streamed performance is available on the NCEM Young Composers Award website at youngcomposersaward.co.uk.

Kit McCarthy: Winner of the 19 to 25 age category. Picture: Charlie Kirkpatrick

The shortlisted composers and pieces:

19 to 25 category:

Kit McCarthy, Molten Kaleidoscope

Parmida Eslaminazari, Celestial Reverie

Brandon Craig, Petit Matin

18 and under category:

Avram Harris,  Transient Variations

Pol Macip Porter, Fugue (Tristesa)

Laura Kesiak, A Vintage Television

Ben Greenwood, Drowsiness Changes

Edward Harris-Brown, Sir Trip-a-lot’s Merriment

The 2025 panel of judges comprised BBC Radio 3 producer Les Pratt, NCEM director Delma Tomlin and The Brook Street Band cellist Tatty Theo.

Molten Kaleidoscope and Transient Variations will be premiered on October 3 at the love:Handel festival, run by The Brook Street Band in and around Norwich. The performance will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show.

Avram Harris: winner of the 18 and under category. Picture: Charlie Kirkpatrick

Delma Tomlin said: “The Young Composers Award is one of the highlights on the NCEM’s calendar and it’s always a joy to discover these young people’s extraordinary wealth of talent, and, of course, enjoy their fabulous new compositions.

“This year we’ve been working with the all-female group The Brook Street Band in an exciting new partnership. Our composers spent an inspiring day working on their compositions with the band and our esteemed colleague, composer, musician and teacher Dr Christopher Fox.

“The Young Composers Award continues to be recognised as an important landmark in the careers of young musicians and it was a privilege to welcome these talented young people to York for an inspiring day sharing music and ideas at the NCEM’s home, St Margaret’s Church. 

“I’d like to say a special thank-you to Dr Christopher Fox, BBC Radio 3 and, of course, my fellow judges.”

Les Pratt, lead producer of The Early Music Show, said: “BBC Radio 3 has been partnering with the colleagues at NCEM for 18 years, supporting this award and nurturing young talent – which is one of our core missions, as the home of classical music and a place where audiences can discover the latest trends and creations. 

Tatty Theo, left, and fellow members of The Brook Street Band at the National Centre for Early Music. Picture: Charlie Kirkpatrick

“Providing a platform for young composers is key in order for classical music to always keep fresh, reflect the present and look to the future. That’s why we can’t wait to share these wonderful new compositions with listeners at home on the Early Music Show and on BBC Sounds.”

Tatty Theo said: “It’s been a real privilege for The Brook Street Band to get to know these eight shortlisted compositions, and we’ve enjoyed exploring the wonderfully engaging and creative sound worlds these young composers have conjured up for our period instruments.

“The repertoire has been thought-provoking and technically demanding in very different ways to the music that inspired it, Handel’s opus 5 trio sonatas, and we’ve loved finding the links between the Handel of the 1730s and these fresh pieces of 2025.

“There’s been humour, surprise, some crazy counting and lots of questions, but we’ve relished the challenge of doing this music justice and look forward to performing the two winning compositions in October at our love: Handel festival, and hopefully incorporating them into Handel programmes in the years to come.”

The Young Composers Award is open to young composers resident in the UK up to and including the age of 25 for the aforementioned age categories.  The 2026 edition of the award will be announced in late autumn.

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National Centre for Early Music launches Young Composers Award 2025 with BBC Radio 3 and The Brook Street Band

The Brook Street Band: Working with young composers at the 2025 award day

THE National Centre for Early Music Young Composers Award 2025 has been launched on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show and BBC Sounds.

Each year, the award is presented by the NCEM in association with BBC Radio 3. For the 2025 award, young composers will be working with the baroque instrumental group The Brook Street Band.

Composers are invited to create a short work for two violins, cello and harpsichord – one of the most popular chamber music groupings of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, reflecting the extraordinarily inventive musical heritage of Purcell, Corelli and Handel – wrapped in a 21st century response.

The Award Day will take place in York on Thursday, May 15 2025 when Dr Christopher Fox will lead a daytime workshop for shortlisted candidates. In the evening, the compositions will be performed by The Brook Street Band at the NCEM, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate.

The winning works will be premiered by The Brook Street Band in October 2025 as part of the love:Handel festival and will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show and BBC Sounds.

This major national annual award is open to young composers up to the age of 25 resident in the United Kingdom and is divided into two categories: 18 years and under and 19 to 25 years.

NCEM director Delma Tomlin says: “We’re very excited to welcome The Brook Street Band as our partner for the Young Composers Award 2025. This ensemble is not only one of the leading exponents of Handel’s music, but also has set up its very own festival, love: Handel, where the winning 2025 compositions will be performed.

“The Young Composers Award is one of the most important dates on the NCEM’s calendar and continues to grow from strength to strength, attracting more and more entries from aspiring young composers from all over the UK.

“Taking part in the award has been an important step in the careers of many successful composers and we are looking forward to hearing this year’s new compositions.”

Les Pratt, producer of The Early Music Show, says: “BBC Radio 3 is delighted to continue to support this award, now looking ahead to its 18th edition. It’s hugely important to challenge and nurture young talent, and what’s most gratifying is seeing past winners and entrants who are now making their way in the professional world.

“We are really looking forward to sharing next year’s compositions for The Brook Street Band with our audiences at home on The Early Music Show.”

Tatty Theo, cellist and director of The Brook Street Band, says: “We’re thrilled to have the privilege of working with young composers, giving life to brand new music that will showcase the varied colours and rich character of our old baroque instruments.

“Handel’s music is at the heart of our music-making, and we cherish this opportunity to explore the creativity it inspires and unleashes in a new young generation of composers.”

Registration closes at 12 noon on Friday, February 7 2025, with the deadline for submission of scores on Friday, March 7. Shortlisted candidates will be informed by Friday, April 4 and will be invited to attend the Award Day May 15. The NCEM will meet reasonable travel and accommodation costs from within the UK.

For more information on how to take part, go to: http://www.ncem.co.uk/composersaward2024 or email: info.composers@ncem.co.uk.

The Brook Street Band: back story

The Brook Street Band cellist and director Tatty Theo

NAMED after the London Street where George Frideric Handel lived from 1723 to 1759. Formed by baroque cellist Tatty Theo, rapidly establishing itself among the UK’s leading Handel specialists, winning grants, awards and broadcasting opportunities from organisations including BBC Radio 3 and the Handel Institute.

Enjoyed an unusually stable core membership, its players working together for more than 20 years in the form of violinists Rachel Harris and Kathryn Parry, cellist Tatty Theo, harpsichord player Carolyn Gibley and flautist Lisete da Silva Bull. This longevity has enabled it to develop a style of performing and music-making that is precise and spontaneous, the musicians able to react instinctively to each other and play as one.

18th century chamber repertoire has always been The Brook Street Band’s driving passion, focusing particularly on Handel’s music, building up a reputation for its fresh, innovative performances, zingy communication style and sense of fun.

Alongside its chamber music schedule, The Brook Street Band works regularly with soloists, conductors, choirs and venues for larger-scaled orchestral and vocal projects.

Passionate about exploring new repertoire written especially for period instruments. Composers including Errollyn Wallen and Nitin Sawhney have written for the band with repertoire ranging from songs to trio sonatas, with commissions for UK festivals, including London International Festival of Early Music.

As part of a large-scale education project, the band commissioned Matthew King’s Il Pastorale, L’Urbino e Il Suburbano, a community-based oratorio for chamber group, electronics, vocal soloists and choir, composed in response to Handel’s L’Allegro, Il Penseroso ed Il Moderato.

The band performs and teaches throughout the UK and Europe. Established love: Handel music festival, held biennially in Norwich, incorporating wide-ranging educational work supported through its charitable trust.

Regularly broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. World premiere recording of Dragon Of Wantley, an English opera by Handel’s bassoonist J F Lampe, won the Opera Award in the 2023 BBC Music Magazine Awards.

The band featured in “Handeliades”, immersive four-day events of concerts, masterclasses and talks given by Handel experts in 2021 and 2023. More information: www.brookstreetband.co.uk.

Shepherd Brass Band and NCEM win National Award for Band Project of the Year for I Can Play with Brass Roots

SHEPHERD Brass Band and the National Centre for Early Music have scooped the National Award for Band Project of the Year at the Brass Bands England Conference for I Can Play with Brass Roots.

The annual conference, held at the City of London School, London, was attended by more than 150 delegates representing brass bands from all over the United Kingdom.

Based in York, I Can Play with Brass Roots began in September 2023, inspired by the National Centre for Early Music’s long-running I Can Play, an innovative project that creates music-making opportunities for D/deaf young people. 

Led by Sean Chandler, Deaf musician, professional trumpeter and qualified teacher of the Deaf, these sessions take place each month at York Music Centre. 

Sean, who is principal cornet in Shepherd Brass Band, had the idea for I Can Play with Brass Rootsand works closely with Brass Roots leader Audrey Brown to deliver the project.

Together they ensure that the young D/deaf musicians receive additional support before and throughout rehearsals to help them become fully integrated into the band. 

Audrey has been teaching families to play brass instruments for many years in the York area, most of whom continue to play today. At the age of 80, she took on the challenge of learning BSL in preparation for welcoming D/deaf musicians to Brass Roots and the Shepherd band family. 

During the past year, the flourishing project has enabled several young D/deaf musicians to become members of the junior group Brass Roots, where they have the exciting opportunity to develop their musical skills as a vital part of mainstream music-making.

Five different bands, who all operate under the umbrella of Shepherd Bands and rehearse on Mondays, are extremely proud of gaining this award. Brass Roots leader Audrey Brown says: “We are very excited to receive this prestigious award recognising the importance of the work of I Can Play with Brass Roots.

“This important initiative enables D/deaf young musicians to develop their musical talent and gives them the valuable opportunity to perform with fellow brass musicians.

“I would like to say a special thank you to the Shepherd Brass Bandfor their invaluable support with getting the project off the ground. I would also like to thank Sean, whose amazing idea has gone from strength to strength, and the I Can Play team at the National Centre for Early Music for their ongoing support and encouragement.”

Did you know?

I Can Play is run by the National Centre for Early Music with support from the Mayfield Valley Arts Trust, Harrogate Deaf Society and Ovingdean Hall Foundation.