Young Composers' Competition Results Announced

The Vancouver Chamber Choir and Artistic Director Jon Washburn have drawn their 46th concert season to a close with the performance of YOUTH AND MUSIC 2017 and winner announcements of the 13th Biennial Young Composers' Competition. The Vancouver Chamber Choir gives outstanding support to the growth and development of talented young composers.

This year's competition finalists were selected from 64 pieces submitted worldwide. The judges were conductor/composer Kathleen Allan, conductor George Roberts and Vancouver Chamber Choir Conductor and Artistic Director Jon Washburn. Each finalist's piece was performed by the Vancouver Chamber Choir prior to winner announcements.

Elementary (Ages 8 - 12) 1st Prize: Jenny Zeng (12) Surrey BC - A Farm Picture 2nd Prize: Charlie Ruff (10) Ottawa ON - Ode to Canada Secondary (Ages 13 - 17) 1st Prize: Henry From (13) Bellingham WA - Finale, Op. 28 2nd Prize: Benjamin Sigerson (16) Coquitlam BC - Said the West Wind College/University (Ages 18 - 22) 1st Prize (tie): John William Griffith II (19) Bloomington IN - Autumn Dusk Benjamin David Knoedler (20) North Port FL - A Child's Prayer Honourable Mention: William Lin (18) Richmond BC - Érable rouge Honourable Mention: Gerard Nicholls (22) Erina NSW Australia - Le Canada

The Young Composers' Competition also included special awards for the best submissions by residents of British Columbia. The three Best of BC award winners were: Elementary (Ages 8 - 12) Jenny Zeng (12) Surrey BC - A Farm Picture
Secondary (Ages 13 - 17) Benjamin Sigerson (16) Coquitlam BC - Said the West Wind College/University (Ages 18 - 22) William Lin (18) Richmond BC - Érable rouge

A participation award was given to Langley Fine Arts School for submitting the most compositions. As a special and well-received feature in the concert programme, soloists from the choir performed five pieces submitted by Robyn Lorensen's Grade 5 composition class at the school. The selected student compositions were: Josh Wilk - The Amazing Things of Canada Cambria Archer - Our Canadian Home Cole Gunhold - BC Mountains Jinny Lee - Beautiful Place Olivia Brulotte - My Senses of Canada.