The Philharmonia Composers’ Academy, presented in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Society and allied to the Orchestra’s prestigious Music of Today contemporary music series, annually offers the opportunity for three talented emerging composers to write an original chamber work for a Philharmonia Ensemble.

Their new works are premiered by an ensemble of Philharmonia musicians at a Music of Today concert at the Royal Festival Hall prior to a full Philharmonia Orchestra concert.

In addition to this high-profile performance, the composers are guided through the writing process by Music of Today Artistic Director Unsuk Chin, as well as benefitting from specially curated seminars, masterclasses, instrument exploration sessions and a ‘works in progress’ workshop. From 2017 a recording and release on the NMC Recordings label has been included, enabling the works to have an international platform via online stores and streaming platforms.

Chia-Ying Lin’s Intermezzo to the Minotaur was inspired by Picasso’s artwork Le Minotaure (1928), the piece influenced by the human amiguity of the Minotaur – the divine and bestial. Alex Woolf’s Octet draws on three types of musical energy: outlandish and explosive, muscular and powerful, and pulsing and propulsive, and Benjamin Ashby’s I’ve been planning for an impromptu explores improvisation inspired by the composer’s free-jazz heroes Evan Parker and Barry Guy.