​Composers Project 2017

formally the 'Future Blend Project'

PoppyHarp Composers Project, formally the 'Future Blend Project', helps composers create and publish music to increase the amount of repertoire for the harp. Brand new compositions are developed through the course of the project in order to make them available to publish at the end!
​In previous years we have held premier concerts for the incredible works. Check out the harpy goodness below!

More Composers Projects:

2024

2019

2018

2016

2017

Competition Winner:
​Ivory by Anthony Green, performed by Olivia Jageurs

​​Adjudicators: Amy Turk and Catherine White

​Thank you to our sponsors:
Anonymous and Kimichi School for making this event possible!

Finalists:
The Awakening by Claudio Passilongo, performed by Fran Barsby
NESHAMA by Alexandra Coursen, performed by Olivia Jageurs
It was snowing butterflies by Nathan James Dearden, performed by Sophie Rocks
Resonances by Rob Crehan, performed by Kinga Was
Haiku for Calumet Street by Arthur Keegan-Bole, performed by Sophie Rocks
In a Minor Groove by Rob Siebert, performed by Natasha Gale
The Child at Sunset by Ben Yee-Paulson, performed by Erica Sinclair
Tiento y Toccata by Mauricio Cristales Armas, performed by Fran Barsby
Pop Suite by Carlos Dos Santos performed by Vera Khait
Cyber Lullaby by Stanislav Fridman, performed by Erica Sinclair
Suite pour Harpe by Louis Sauter, performed by Rita Schindler
Hybrid States by Zoran Scekic, performed by Vera Khait

Competition Winner:
Ivory
Composer Anthony Green
​
Harpist: Olivia Jageurs

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

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The Awakening 
Composer: Claudio Passilongo
​
Harpist: Fran Barsby

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

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NESHAMA
Composer: Alexandra Coursen


Harpist: Olivia Jageurs

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

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It was snowing butterflies
​Composer: Nathan James Dearden
​
Harpist: Sophie Rocks

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

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Resonances
Composer:  Rob Crehan 

Harpist: Kinga Was

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

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Haiku for Calumet Street
​Composer: Arthur Keegan-Bole
​
Harpist: Sophie Rocks

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

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In a Minor Groove Composer: Rob Siebert

Harpist: Natasha Gale

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

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The Child at Sunset
Composer:Ben Yee-Paulson
​
Harpist: Erica Sinclair

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Tiento y Toccata
​Composer: Mauricio Cristales Armas
​
Harpist: Fran Barsby

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

---

Pop Suite
Composer: Carlos Dos Santos 

Harpist: Vera Khait

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

---

Cyber Lullaby
Composer: Stanislav Fridman
​
Harpist: Erica Sinclair

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

---

Suite pour Harpe
Composer: Louis Sauter

​
Harpist: Rita Schindler

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

---

Hybrid States
Composer: Zoran Scekic

​
Harpist: Vera Khait

Devastatingly the recordings from this year have been corrupted.
​Excitingly we are busy rerecording these videos so that everyone can listen to and enjoy the incredible work done by these composers and harpists.

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UK HARP ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE REVIEW 2018
The call for submission of compositions for the 2016-2017 project had a fantastic response. Thanks to the wonders of the internet age, submissions were up massively on the previous year. The composers were truly from all over the globe. From the field of over 100 submissions, 13 finalists, from El Salvador, Brazil Croatia Italy Denmark France and the USA as well as the UK were chosen to be performed and each composer was paired with a performing harpist to prepare the work for the concert the project is to encourage young composers through in fact the composers were brought of age and experience some still students are those rich in life experience if not in composing experience and some very experienced musicians many of the composers 1A variety of prizes Olivia Jagers who worked with dozens if not hundreds of composers through her 15 second harp project (15secondharp.com) shared some of her experiences of working with two of the winning composers in the future blend project since both of the composers lived outside the UK we worked mostly on Skype and phone until the very last couple of days before the concert this worked well there were structural issues to work on but less well when there were issues on timbre technology has not quite reached the heights to really convey accurate sound across the ether it was interesting to see the difference in how much pieces changed or didn't in the course of our collaboration I was glad to persuade one of them to give us much more detailed interview information on dynamics for example I really enjoyed being able to add the heart add to the heartbreak to our through this project a capacity crowd brother gathered to hear the works at the second hidden gem concert the 1st Saturday in January exactly 1 year after the inaugural concert the beautiful and extremely historic Lord Leicester hospital in Warwick dating mainly from the late 14th century and fortunately no longer full of those needing medical treatment providing a magnificent venue for this one very modern and up-to-date event the audience was a wonderful mix of young and old and indeed the audience gathered we were treated to in formal performances from some very young performers. If last year's concert was a huge success please see in bar werner's excellent report in the UKHA magazine spring 2016 issue still available on the future blend project website this one was even more exciting 13 solos were prepared prepared by 9 harpists though sadly 2 of the performance was struck down with illness an unable to attend Fran barsby the founder and director of the project valiantly stepped up fond Claudio passively Argos attractive jazzy the awakening and Eric and Sinclair simply with only a couple of days notice prepared stands loves friedmans cyber lullaby for amplified all other hobbies taking part were Shelley fairplay Natasha Gale Olivia jagers very kyat Catrin meek Sophie rocks Rita Schindler and king OS many of the composers attended from overseas and UK and it was wonderful to hear them say each say a few words about their pieces most of the pieces held the interest really well varying in length from three to 13 minutes styles varied from jazzy micro tonal to romantic to modern and there were many movements moments of enchanting beauty I urge urge you to visit the website to listen to all of these pieces at the concert audience members were each given a slip to vote anonymously for their favourite not always easy as this listener would like to vote for several there were was 1 clear winner by a nose and several very close runner UPS the jury of professionals who decides which pieces will be published was comprised of two composers Paul Lewis who's written perfect prolifically for the harp Kirsty factor Barney and harpist Amy Turk and from Busby the audience waited while the votes were counted and then the results were announced the audience and jury were very much in agreement on the outcomes it was especially pleasing that all of the composers who were the winners were present several of whom had travelled across the Atlantic to be here here are the results along with some of the comments from audience members winner ivory by Anthony green USA Netherlands performed by a livia jagers child at sunset menu Paulson USA performed by Erica Sinclair nech Hummer by Alexandra courson USA performed by alivia jagers it was snowing butterflies by Nathan Deirdre and performed by Sophie rocks haiku for Clement street by Arthur Keegan bowl UK performed by Sophie rocks you'll be able to listen to the pieces and the other finalists on the on the poppy harp website I was especially delighted to buy a copy of my favourite from the study from that concert study of amplified heart by wife outsoles is oh a project like this cannot exist without support and help in addition to the amazing efforts of founder Fran Busby and her administrative assistant Erica Sinclair say thanks must go to the sponsors UKHA, PoppyHarp, Eleanor Turner, Pilgrim harps, Fotofilia and Crowdfunder contributes huge credit is due for the valuable contribution this project is providing to not only the repertoire of the harp, but also awareness on the part of composers.

What is the future? Another project is scheduled for January 2018, with the deadline for submitting compositions 1 June 2017. The 10 finalist compositions will be announced 1 August, then the composers and performers will work together to create the best possible work for the harp, to be presented 6 January 2018. If you are interested in being one of the performing harpists, there is information on how tojoin the project on the website. Do come attend the 2018 Hidden Gem concert next January if you can! And if not, everyone can follow the project on their website, futureblendproject.co.uk.

CATHERINE WHITE 

Donate to the project:

We rely on donations to give back to the generous harpists that give their time to this project.
If you would like to donate to this project please email Fran at [email protected] - THANK YOU!
If you are a composer that would like to get involved please fill in the form below. 
If you are a harpist that would like to get involved please email Fran, [email protected]​

Donate to the Composers Project

£50.00

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£100.00

Sponsor a Harpist for a year!

£500.00

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£25.00

Sponsor 50% of a commission

£250.00

Sponsor 2024 harpists

£3,000.00