Skip navigation

Press Release - composeyourself competition winner makes cool music from hot science

Issue date: 10 Mar 2003
Number: 4/2003

An exciting piece of new music inspired by Antarctic science is being premi?d at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 16 March. Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, ?About Fish? by A-level music student Rosemary Toll from Purcell School in Hertfordshire, is the winner of this year?s composeyourself, a competition, celebrating the unique collaboration of National Orchestra Week (8-16 March 2003) and National Science Week (7-16 March 2003) in association with the British Antarctic Survey. composeyourself invited students to explore the theme of today?s Antarctic science, in areas such as ocean life, the wandering albatross and ice. Rather than portray the bleak, desolate, snowy landscape of the frozen continent, Rosemary?s composition focuses on life beneath the ice. Tiny fish, plankton and squid dart through the music. Rosemary and her school will be presented with the British Antarctic Survey Music Award of ?600 at the performance. Rosemary said, ?I was fascinated by the opportunity to combine Antarctic science and music and am thrilled to have won this year?s composeyourself. I am excited at the thought of working with some of the UK?s top musicians and can?t wait until the premi?.? The Family Concert on Sunday 16 March takes place at 11.30am. Tickets cost ?7 adults, ?3.50 concessions from the London Philharmonic Orchestra Box Office on tel. 020 7840 4242 or at the website: www.lpo.org.uk --Ends-- Issued by British Antarctic Survey Press Office, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Contact Athena Dinar tel. (01223) 221414, email a.dinar@bas.ac.uk National Orchestra Week is presented by the Association of British Orchestras (Contact Adam Powell tel. 020 7287 0333, email adam@abo.org.uk) in association with Making Music (Contact Robin Osterley tel. 0870 872 3300, email Robin@makingmusic.org.uk) National Science Week is organised by the BA. Contact Paula Wallace tel. 020 7973 3074, email Paula.Wallace@the-ba.net
NOTES FOR EDITORS: Rosemary Toll is an A-level student at the Purcell School in Bushey, Hertfordshire. She is studying percussion and enjoys playing cello, double bass as well as composing. She has been awarded a scholarship to study percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music from September 2003. Interview Opportunities: Rosemary Toll is available for interview before the premiere. Contact Athena Dinar or Craig Brierley as above. Access to the recording of the composition ?About Fish? can be arranged by contacting Adam Powell as above. Photographs/Footage: Stunning footage of Antarctic landscape is available from the BAS Press Office. Photographs of Rosemary at rehearsals and the performance will be available from Adam Powell as above. composeyourself is a national competition open to students across the UK studying music at A/AS level or Higher/Advanced Higher level. The winning composer is invited to the premiere of their work performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra on Sunday 16 March 2003 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Return rail travel, courtesy of Qjump.co.uk and 5-star hotel accommodation, courtesy of Hotel Brokers and Thistle Hotels, will be provided for up to 6 people. General information about British Antarctic Survey - British Antarctic Survey (BAS) undertakes a world-class programme of science in the Antarctic and related regions, addressing key global and regional issues through research, survey and monitoring. BAS also helps to discharge the UK's international responsibilities under the Antarctic Treaty System. British Antarctic Survey is part of the Natural Environment Research Council. British Antarctic Survey has a continuing commitment to education. Together with co-producers the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, it won the Geography Association?s Gold Certificate for best new educational resource with its Antarctic Schools Pack. General information about National Orchestra Week - National Orchestra Week (NOW) is presented by the Association of British Orchestras and Making Music to promote the diversity of live instrumental music across the UK. In 2003, NOW will be in its seventh year and as before, thousands of musicians up and down the country will be taking part from professional, semi-professional and amateur orchestras and music groups, as well as many youth and school orchestras and ensembles. Events being lined up for 2003 look sure to exceed the 150 events that took place during NOW 2002. NOW 2003 kicks off on Saturday 8 March, signalling the start to nine days of special events ranging from family concerts and open rehearsals to pre-concert activities and a special series of performances in the most intriguing venues! Visit the website at: www.nationalorchestraweek.org.uk General information about National Science Week - Now in its tenth year, National Science Week is co-ordinated by the BA, providing a national context for the thousands of events taking place throughout the UK from the 7-16 March 2003. The BA has been promoting awareness and appreciation of science, engineering and technology for well over 150 years. The BA?s Young People?s Programme includes a national network of science clubs. For more information visit the website at: www.the-ba.net