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Following last year's international success our Composition Competition is back!
This year we would like to celebrate the life and career of one of the world's leading harpsichordists Zuzana Ruzickova and her invaluable role in promoting pieces by modern composers on period instruments.

Despite suffering enormous hardship she overcame all obstacles to become a leading figure. During the pandemic we've been inspired by Zuzana's spirit and strength and we're honoured to name our competition in her memory.

Find out more about Zuzana here.

Competition Winners

Come bianca luce by Massimo De Lillo for baroque string quartet
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Come bianca luce by Massimo De Lillo for baroque string quartet

COME BIANCA LUCE by Massimo De Lillo is one of three winning pieces from the Ruzickova Composition Competition 2021. ❤ You are the co-creators of our films! https://www.patreon.com/adawitczyk "Through the depth of sound and expressive possibilities of the baroque string quartet, Come bianca luce (As white light) evokes the emotions and feelings aroused by the vision of white light and its surprising chromatic variations: from the welcoming, soft and reassuring tone of warm light to the silent, icy and sharp white of cold light. This piece, written for the RŮŽIČKOVÁ Composition Competition, draws inspiration from the reading of some verses of the “Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri and is dedicated to the people who are victims of war and terrorism, because white, a symbol of purity, spirituality and eternity, represents our hope for the future and trust in others." - Massimo De Lillo ------------------------ Website: https://www.adawitczyk.com/competition2021 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adawitczyk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adawitczykviolin/ ------------------------ Ada Witczyk & Catherine Martin - baroque violin Rebecca Breen – baroque viola Norah O’Leary – baroque cello Director: Simon Helbling AD/Producer: Nick Hardisty DP: Hamid Ahmadi 1st AC/Cam Operator: Sahil Kotwani Gaffer/Cam Operator: Nizah Elias Spark/Cam Operator: Tom Xu Camera Trainee: John Mouratis Spark: Daniela Stephan Sound: Cameron Hills Hair & Makeup: Michelle Perkins #baroqueviolin #quartet #compositioncompetition
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Ralf Dorrell
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England

Ralf won the Prima la musica! Prize with Jigsaw Jig

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Tim Tricker
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Scotland

Tim won the ISM Prize with Beam Splitter in B Minor

1 May 2021

APPLICATIONS OPEN

No fee, no age limit and open to all nationalities, we threw out the rule book and gave composers just 2 months to compose their new piece in any style they pleased for a baroque string quartet.

30 June 2021

SUBMISSION PERIOD CLOSES

From Greece to China, Australia to Canada, USA to Italy, Mexico to Finland (and many others along the way), over 60 new pieces were brought to life by composers from 26 countries around the world.

16 August 2021

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Baroque violinist Simon Standage and competition founder Ada Witczyk join the judging panel to pick winning compositions.

28 Sep 2021

FILMING WINNING PIECES

Simon Helbling directs filming of the 2 winning Viktor Kalabis Prize pieces. Watch this space for the premiere!

12 Nov 2021

NEW WORKS PUBLISHED

All 3 of our 2021 winning works have now been published by early music specialists Prima la Musica. Now you can play our new music yourself HERE

12 Dec 2021

SONG AND DANCE PREMIERE

You can now watch Song and Dance by Alex Petshaft HERE

19 Dec 2021

COME BIANCA LUCE PREMIERE

You can now watch Come bianca luce by Massimo De Lillo HERE

10 April 2022

RADIO PREMIERE

2 winning compositions premiered on Argentinian National Radio

Thanks for submitting!

Competitions don't just grow on trees

Recording space, musicians, film crews and equipment are all expensive and we are hugely grateful to everyone who has helped support our work last year.
With your help we can create something really special ONCE AGAIN!

Generously supported by:

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Partners:

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