The LSO Discovery Panufnik Young Composers Scheme is an exciting initiative from the London Symphony Orchestra offering six emerging composers each year the opportunity to write for a world-class symphony orchestra. It has been devised by the Orchestra in association with Lady Panufnik in memory of her late husband, the composer Sir Andrzej Panufnik, and is generously supported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust.

Under the guidance of renowned composer Colin Matthews, the scheme enables composers to experiment over time and develop their orchestral writing skills; they form collaborative musical relationships with LSO players as well as witnessing their specially composed pieces put under the microscope by the LSO and François-Xavier Roth in a public workshop rehearsal – a major learning curve.

We’re delighted to announce the six composers taking part in the 2008 scheme:

Andrew McCormack
Joshua Penduck
Matthew Sergeant
Sasha Siem
Ayanna Witter-Johnson
Raymond Yiu

The 2008 composers will start work on their three minute pieces soon and you’ll be able to keep in touch with their progress here (watch this space). The new works will be rehearsed with the LSO and Francois-Xavier Roth at a public workshop at LSO St Luke’s on Friday 3 October 2008. To book your place for this workshop please email david.nunn@lso.co.uk

Find out more about the scheme on the LSO website at http://lso.co.uk/composing