Les Trois Canards - Launchpad Winners 2011

Les Trois Canards is made up of three postgraduate oboe students from the Royal Northern College of Music. The trio was formed in September 2009 and has already achieved success, having made it to the final of the Woodwind Chamber Music Prize in both 2010 and 2011.

The trio has also taken part in master classes in both Manchester and London. In March it had the opportunity to provide a whole recital programme as part of the Monday Lunchtime concert series at the RNCM.

Les Trois Canards enjoys playing a wide range of music from Baroque to contemporary, as well as discovering some of the lesser known works written for oboe trio. In 2011 they will be recording ‘Intercession’ by James Macmillan to be part of a new CD of woodwind works performed by students at the RNCM.

Vesuvio Wind Quintet - Launchpad Winners 2011

The Vesuvio Wind Quintet was founded in 2006 when its members were all students at Trinity College of Music (now Trinity Laban). Past highlights include competing in the 6th Henri Tomasi International Woodwind Quintet Competition in Marseilles, performing in the 2009 Chiddingly Festival and a recital at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich. In April 2011 the quintet travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform for the International Concert Committee and British International School in Al-Khobar, and at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal.

The Vesuvio Wind Quintet is focused on performing contemporary quintet repertoire by living British and Irish composers, recently commissioning a new work from Irish composer Cormac McCarthy. They like to combine these works with standard repertoire of both European and British works from early 19th century onwards, alongside solo, duo, trios and quartet works in order to add more colour and interest to their programme.

The quintet is also committed to music education and has enjoyed performing many school and family concerts.

The Vesuvio Wind Quintet is grateful for support from the Fidelio Charitable Trust.

For details on future performances visit www.vesuviowindquintet.com

June Emerson Wind Music 2011 Launchpad Prize

We are absolutely thrilled and extremely proud to announce the winners of the 2011 June Emerson Wind Music Launchpad Prize. They are:

Vesuvio Wind Quintet

Trinity College of Music
Vesuvio Wind Quintet

Royal Northern College of Music
Les Trois Canards

Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama

Les Trios Canards

Bells Up!

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Hafren Quintet

Royal College of Music
Kudo Saxophone Quartet

Guildhall School of Music & Drama
to be announced in October 2011

Bells Up!

Royal Academy of Music
- not awarded this year

About the prize

Hafren Quintet

The Launchpad Prize was an idea that began as a desire to help young musicians in some significant way. With our limited financial resources it was difficult to come up with something that would make enough of a difference to make it worthwhile. The idea of sponsoring a prize at one of the UK music colleges was something we just couldn’t afford, and we also felt that we’d like to be able to offer something to more than just one college and be a little more ‘hands on’. We eventually decided that we would assist one young (predominantly) final year wind ensemble from each of the major UK music colleges to launch themselves onto the professional circuit.

The Kudo Saxophone Quartet

The Launchpad Prize consists of practical help including: a substantial JEWM music voucher; dedicated space on the JEWM website; publicity at any time through our online media channels (JEWM blog, Twitter, Facebook etc); editorial coverage wherever possible; unlimited free advertising flyers in JEWM music orders in order to publicise themselves; exclusive access to the JEWM shop with use of all music and facilities; complimentary copies of any existing and future Emerson Edition titles which fit their instrumental line-up; anything else we can think of.

We’d like to wish the 2010 winners all the very best for a successful future. Please support them by going to hear their performances - they’re all incredibly talented ensembles and you won’t be disappointed! They are: Gelachter Trio, Meridian Brass, Carter Quintet, Ellipsis Wind Quintet, Dolce Cinque and Pure Brass.