Catz Hosts the 8th Annual Henfrey Prize for Composition
The final concert of the 2025 Henfrey Prize for Composition took place on Friday, 13th June.
The annual Henfrey Prize for Composition awards £1,000 to support the creation of outstanding new chamber music. It is open to students and recent graduates from the University of Oxford.
Three undergraduate composers – Leandro Landolina (2nd-year Music, St John’s College), Frederick Sugarman (2nd-year Music, New College), and Elliot Wigham (1st-year Music, St John’s College) – were invited to create new works for flute and piano. With the guidance of nationally celebrated composer Nicola LeFanu, the students composed pieces for flautist Gavin Osborn and pianist Benjamin Powell, both of whom are recognised for their mastery of contemporary instrumental techniques.
In an initial workshop during Michaelmas Term, the composers were introduced to the full range of flutes (piccolo, C flute, alto flute, and bass flute) and a set of extended piano techniques involving unconventional materials such as Blu Tack and glass rods. They were asked by LeFanu to respond to painter Paul Klee’s provocation to “take a line for a walk”, and instructed to compose a 7–10 minute work for the duo. A second workshop in Hilary Term gave the composers a chance to hear their pieces performed and to receive feedback from LeFanu and the musicians on artistic and practical matters, before revising their scores for the final public performance.
The resulting compositions – Desire Lines (Sugarman), Grey Groves (Wigham), and colourweaving (Landolina) – were performed to a full Catz Music House. Each work was played twice to give listeners the chance to engage more deeply with the unfamiliar material. Every piece received enthusiastic applause; and, while all were praised by the adjudicating composer and performers, one stood out.
The 2024 Henfrey Prize for Composition was awarded to Leandro Landolina for his piece, colourweaving.
Dr Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey, Catz Fellow and Director of Performance, comments: “It’s exciting to see the Henfrey Prize grow each year, and to hear the extraordinarily sophisticated and beautiful music from these young composers. To have six months to develop a piece for a competition, with guidance from a composer as distinguished as Nicola LeFanu – or indeed, past guests like Judith Weir and Mark Simpson – is exceptionally rare. I’m so proud that we are able to offer this opportunity here at Catz.”
Established in 2017 by St Catherine’s Honorary Fellow, Dr Anthony Henfrey, and organised by Dr Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey, the Henfrey Prize offers students a unique opportunity to collaborate with professional musicians and composers, while developing their compositional technique and artistic voice.
Details for next year’s competition will be announced in Michaelmas Term.