The winners of the National Centre for Early Music Young Composers Award 2025 have been revealed.
The final of the 18th iteration of the award, presented in partnership with BBC Radio 3, took place on Thursday 15 May at the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) in York.
The winners for the 2025 competition were announced to be Kit McCarthy in the 19 to 25 years category with Molten Kaleidoscope, and Avram Harris in the 18 years and under category with Transient Variations.
This year, the NCEM and BBC Radio 3 invited aspiring young composers to compose a new trio sonata movement for two violins, cello, and harpsichord. Composers were invited to explore a particular musical world and character in their piece lasting between three and four minutes.
Compositions by the eight young finalists were workshopped during the day by composer Professor Christopher Fox and The Brook Street Band. In the evening the pieces were performed by The Brook Street Band in a public performance at the NCEM, and the performance was live streamed to ensure that friends and families were able to join in with the fun.
You can catch up with the live stream online here.
The shortlisted composers and pieces:
In the 19-25 category:
- Kit McCarthy – Molten Kaleidoscope
- Parmida Eslaminazari – Celestial Reverie
- Brandon Craig – Petit Matin
In the 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 were: Les Pratt, BBC Radio 3 producer; Delma Tomlin, Director of the NCEM; and Tatty Theo, The Brook Street Band.
The winning compositions Molten Kaleidoscope and Transient Variations will be premiered on Friday 3 October 2025 at the love:Handel festival, an annual 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.
Delma Tomlin, MBE, director of the NCEM 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. Kit and Avram’s compositions will be premiered by The Brook Street Band in their very own festival “love:Handel” in Norwich when they will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio’s Early Music Show.”