Young Composers Win With Memorial Anthems

Young Composers Win With Memorial Anthems

MAIDENHEAD, England, October 17/PRNewswire/ -- The winners of a national competition which challenged young people to compose an Anthem for Remembrance have been announced.

The Anthem for Remembrance Competition was organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and supported by the Royal British Legion.

The judging took place in three categories; Primary School, Secondary School and Young Composer. The winner of the Primary School category was St. Austin's Catholic Primary School, Liverpool. The Secondary School title was carried off by 13 year old Tom Rose of Thomas Mills High School, Framlingham, Suffolk who also took the prestigious overall prize. The Young Composer category was won by 16 year old Jonathan Coffer from Wells Cathedral School.

Caroline Coxon, the Commission's Education Consultant said,

"I was delighted by the amazing range of styles which all showed great creativity. It was great that the winners came from all over the country. Tribute should also be paid to the music teachers for the wonderful support and inspiration they have given the students."

Brigadier Ian Townsend, the Director-General of the Royal British Legion said,

"It has been a great privilege to listen to such young talent. Some of the entries were outstanding- what a difficult choice!"

Presentations will be made over the next four weeks. For further information contact Peter Francis on +44-(0)1628-507163.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of those members of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars, for building and maintaining memorials to the dead whose graves are unknown and for providing records and registers of these 1.7 million burials and commemorations found in most countries throughout the world. Visit www.cwgc.org for more information.

2. Anthem for Remembrance

Hugh Gordon Langton was a brilliant violinist who was killed in the First World War and is commemorated by the Commission in Poelcapelle British Cemetery, in Belgium. His family used a small musical phrase, instead of words, as an inscription on his headstone to express their feelings of sorrow.

The competition asked young people to compose piece of music using the inscription as inspiration, including it or using it as a theme.

3. The Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion was founded in 1921 and is the UK's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants.

Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7DX, Telephone: +44-(0)1628-507163, E-mail: media@cwgc.org

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