Breathing World: new youth composer competition launched

World-renowned mezzo-soprano Laura Wright

Following the global success of Wildlife Artist of the Year, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) has launched a new nationwide competition with mezzo-soprano Laura Wright to inspire budding composers aged 12 to 18 years. DSWF is inviting young composers to submit a piece of choral music inspired by the natural world for SATB (soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices).

The Breathing World competition offers musicians the opportunity to channel their creativity in response to the noise of environmental threats DSWF works tirelessly to stop. The winner of Breathing World will get the opportunity to work with an expert team of musicians, including the world-renowned mezzo-soprano Laura Wright, to develop and finalise their piece before its world premiere at an upcoming DSWF event in London.

Entries for DSWF’s Breathing World youth composer competition are open to UK residents until 5pm on the 30th of September 2022. Entries can be in audio and/or score format submitted digitally via an application form on the DSWF website. There is no cost to enter the competition. The winner will be picked by a panel of judges with the winner announcement made early 2023.

DSWF is a highly effective wildlife conservation charity operating across Africa and Asia to end wildlife crime and protect endangered species in their natural habitat. Working from grassroots to the world stage, DSWF adopts a holistic approach to conservation.  DSWF has always had a rich heritage in the arts thanks to their Founder, the late great conservationist and wildlife artist, David Shepherd CBE. David’s creative legacy remains at the heart of the Foundation today, which continues to harness the power of the arts to inform, motivate and drive action to protect wildlife and the wild species that call it their home.

By investing in economically and socially vulnerable communities at the heart of the conservation landscape, DSWF supports programmes that tackle the drivers of wildlife crime. By supporting law enforcement operations, undercover investigations, education and poverty alleviation strategies DSWF has a real impact, on real people, in real places, to turn the tide on extinction. DSWF has invested more than £11 million directly into wildlife conservation since 1984.

Find out more about the Breathing World 2022 youth composer competition and how to submit an entry.