Royal Birmingham Conservatoire:
Andrew Downes
Performance Prize

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Concert Hall where the Andrew Downes Performance Prize takes place. Photo by Elliott Brown

The Andrew Downes Performance Prize is a Royal Birmingham Conservatoire competition open to a wide range of students, with a first prize of £1,000.

Andrew is a prolific freelance classical composer from Birmingham. He has composed a diverse span of vocal and instrumental music which has been performed and broadcast throughout the world, in many leading concert halls and cathedrals.

Between 1990 and 2005, Andrew was Head of the School of Composition and Creative Studies at the Conservatoire. He was awarded a Professorship in 1992, and in 2014 he was made Emeritus Professor of Birmingham City University for carrying out his work at Birmingham Conservatoire 'with distinction'.

More details

Past winners:

2014: The Belgrave String Quartet, performing String Quartet No.1

2015: Andrew Randall, baritone, performing Casterbridge Fair Song Cycle

2016: Domonkos Csabay, pianist, performing 7 Preludes for Piano

2017: Edward Leung, pianist, performing Piano Sonata No.1

2020: Curzon Brass, performing Suite for Brass Quintet No.1

2022: Yugen Saxophone Quartet performing Earth Dances

2023: Aza Saxophone Quartet performing Earth Dances

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2014 memorabilia: