Our StoryThe Future Blend Project began in 2015 as an initiative to bring composers and harpists together in the creation of brand new solo harp music. What started as a single project soon evolved into an annual international composition competition, attracting some of the most exciting emerging talent from around the world.
Each year, 8 to 10 finalists were selected through a call for scores. These composers were then paired with professional harpists and given five months to collaborate, refine, and perfect their new works. The harpists, some of the most dynamic and experienced young professionals globally, brought each piece to life. The final compositions premiered at the Hidden Gem Concert, held each January, marking the world debut of these innovative works. Following the pandemic, the project evolved once again. Today, five resident harpists work with five new composers annually, continuing to inspire and champion the creation of original harp repertoire. At the end of each cycle, the composers are offered the opportunity to publish their work with The Harp Studio, and the harpists record each piece for release on the PoppyHarp YouTube channel. |
We’re taking a pause in 2026 to re-record all pieces that currently have no video versions. Click Composers Project Archive to explore the full collection.
Next composers call:
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This project is made possible entirely by volunteers. There are no entry fees or participation costs for composers. Every harpist, partner, and contributor donates their time and talent to ensure this remains an inclusive, inspiring, and accessible platform for creativity.
Thank you to everyone involved, your generosity is the heartbeat of the PoppyHarp Composers Project. It simply wouldn’t exist without you. |
Please note that WWW.FUTUREBLENDPROJECT.COM is nothing to do with PoppyHarp, Fran Barsby OR the original Future Blend Project. Please be cautious of scams online.
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Our Aims
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Resident Harpists:
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History of the ProjectComposers:
Segan Akinola, Nantenaina Andriamorasata, Ben Parkinson Atherton, Jean-Patrick Besingrand, Antonio Bonazzo, Stephane Cem Kilic, Stéphane Cem Kiliç, Rosie Clements, Alexandra Coursen, Rob Crehan, Maurizio Cristales Armas, Felix Ceunen, Milosz Czarniecki, Kirsty Devaney, Nathan James Dearden, Vicente Solsona Dellá, Carlos Dos Santos, Matthew Elderton-Lewis, Patrick Ellis, Stanislav Fridman, Paolo Geminiani, Anthony Green, Billy Hoggmascall, Jacqueline Holt, Bernard Hughes, Sam James, Nadim Jauffur, Rob Jones, Arthur Keegan-Bole, Argyro Koliogiorgi, David Lancaster, Ruth Lee, Yunfei Li, Christine Morphett, Marcílio Onofre, Edson Tadeu Ortolan, Claudio Passilongo, Camilla Pay, Ben Yee Paulson, Ryan Probert, Meng Wang, Ailie Robertson, David Roche, Harm Roche van Tiddens, Angela Slater, Zoran Scekic, Rob Siebert, Dominic Sewell, Louis Sauter, Vicente Solsona Dellá, Amy Thomson, Anastasia Vedyakova, Ben Weatherill, Alison Willis, Adrienne Wilson, Amos Wong, Sam Wu, Yfat Soul Zisso, Xu Zhen, Tyler Zwink. Harpists:
Fran Barsby, Bethan Conway, Natasha Gale, Olivia Jageurs, Vera Khait, Becki Luff, Lucy Nolan, Camilla Pay, Alexander Rider, Sophie Rocks, Sam Rose, Rita Schindler, Erica Sinclair, Eleanor Turner, Amy Turk, Kinga Was, Kinga Was Adjudicators:
Cathy White, Shelley Fairplay, Anne Denholm, Edmund Jolliffe Reviews: Paul Lewis, Cathy White Sheet music publication: The Harp Studio - Bethan Watson |
Companies that have supported our concerts:
Pilgrim Harps - Penny Johnson, Tom Greaves The Harp Stuido - Bethan Watson Fuz Films - Rob Fuz Audio Recording - Arthur Keegan-Bole, Ben Weatherill 
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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
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] |
