Composers Project

formally the 'Future Blend Project'

Staff Access Only

Our Story

The 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.

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.

Applications are now closed for 2025

Successful composers are announced: 1st June 2025

poppyharp_composers_project_outline_25.pdf
File Size:	76 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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!

Our Aims

To encourage composers to write more music for the harp.
To encourage music written for both lever and pedal harp
To allow each composers individual style to shine whilst producing music that is accessible to the instrument.
To nurture new and continued friendships and positive working relationships between harpists and composers around the world.
Promote all styles, genres and music from around the world.
To have fun and enjoy making music together!

Past Projects

Click on the pictures above to watch the performance of the music from each year.

History of the Project

Composers:
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, Kirsty Devaney, Nathan James Dearden, Vicente Solsona Dellá, Carlos Dos Santos, Matthew Elderton-Lewis, Patrick Ellis, Stanislav Fridman, Paolo Geminiani, Anthony Green, Billy Hoggmascall, 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, Alison Willis, Amos Wong, Sam Wu, Yfat Soul Zisso, Ben Weatherill.

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

Applications for the PoppyHarp Composers Project 2025 have now closed

Cost: FREE
This experience is completely free and I cannot thank the harpists involved enough for donating their time to this amazing project!

Parameters:

You must be over 18 to apply
2025 project - Harp Solo ONLY
Your work does not have to be finished but give a good impression of what you are trying to achieve
You do not have to have written for or worked with a harpist before.
Composers retain the rights to their work throughout the project
Your sheet music must not be on sale. If your sheet music has been published unfortunately we cannot accept your application (Published = your sheet music is available to the general public to be purchase online or in physical form. If your music is published as an audio file only, we can still accept your application. However, you must have full rights to take part in the music, hold sole copyright of your music and there must be no conflict of interests in any other projects, performances or grants you are a part of.)

5 Harp Solo works will be chosen by our panel of harpists.

Successful Composers:

Up to 5 sessions working with a harpist on your composition (May-October)
Receive passionate and tailored advice on composing for the harp. Composers will learn about the instrument and how to ensure their piece reflects their unique style whilst complimenting the instrument.
A video of the finished composition will be published on PoppyHarp Youtube (November).
If the composer chooses, the sheet music can be sold on the PoppyHarp website or our partners website - The Harp Studio.

APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED
Successful composers are announced: 1st June 2025

poppyharp_composers_project_outline_25.pdf
File Size:	76 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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

Donate to the Composers Project

£100.00

Sponsor a Harpist for a year!

£500.00

Donate to the Composers Project

£25.00

Sponsor 50% of a commission

£250.00

Sponsor 2024 harpists

£3,000.00