Composer Ed Bennett has been awarded first prize in the 2006 Tactus Competition in Belgium.

The Tactus Competition offers an opportunity for young composers to increase their understanding of writing for symphony orchestra. A series of working sessions with the Belgian National Orchestra was held in Brussels between 9 November and 2 December 2006. Ed Bennett was one of four composers selected to participate in these sessions, and was given an opportunity to rehearse his work Ausland with the orchestra. The sessions were followed by discussion of the works between the composers and the adjudicators, and lectures were given on various aspects of composing for symphony orchestra.

Ausland will be given at least five performances by different orchestras over the next year, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. The first of these performances was given by the Belgian National Orchestra and conducter Reinbert de Leeuw on Friday 8 December in the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels.

Posted: 13 December 2006