At the Royal Philharmonic Society, we cherish composers and the music they give to the world. For over 200 years, we have supported composers to write music that inspires performers and audiences. With support from composer Thea Musgrave, and her husband, the conductor Peter Mark, the RPS Thea Musgrave Fund supports composers and performers dedicated to contemporary music.
This year, we are pleased to support five composer-performer partnerships with RPS Thea Musgrave Composition Grants, and five ensembles, performers and festivals with RPS Thea Musgrave Performance Grants. You can read more about these grants, and this year's recipients, below:
Throughout Thea’s career, she has treasured having dedicated time to shape ideas with musicians. RPS Thea Musgrave Composition Grants support composers writing a new work for an established solo performer, duo, or chamber ensemble – not only contributing to their commission, but within each grant vitally giving them and their intended performers some means to devote focused workshop and rehearsal time to its creation. This year RPS Thea Musgrave Composition Grants are being awarded to:
Alex Ho writing for mezzo soprano Fleur Barron
Charlotte Bray writing for the Piatti Quartet
David John Roche writing for guitarist Gerard Cousins
Ryan Latimer writing for percussionist Colin Currie
Silvina Milstein writing for the Fidelio Trio
Thea’s remarkable catalogue of compositions spans decades and is a veritable treasure trove for performers and programmers. We are committed to encouraging more musicians and musical organisations to delve in, discover and embrace Thea’s works, and share them with UK audiences. RPS Thea Musgrave Performance Grants help performers, ensembles, festivals and venues to put Thea’s music at the heart of their UK programming, and distinctively promote it to captivate audiences. This year, RPS Thea Musgrave Performance Grants are being awarded to:
Buxton International Festival
Buxton, Peak District, July 2027
Each Summer, the Peak District is home to Buxton International Festival, bringing world-class opera, classical music, theatre and literature to the region. In July 2027, the festival will feature the world premiere of Thea’s chamber opera Orlando – An Escapade. Composed by Thea in 2024, the opera is based on Virginia Woolf’s classic novel Orlando, an extraordinary time-hopping adventure focusing on two universal human pursuits: finding one's partner, and finding one’s life’s work. Thea says ‘I have chosen to focus my intimate opera primarily around those two goals, exploring the relationship between writer and subject and the struggle throughout one’s life to find actual fulfilment through both love and work.’
Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble
Belfast, multiple concerts throughout 2026/27 Season
Northern Irish ensemble Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble are gaining recognition for their adventurous artistic programming, setting an impressive tempo in their embrace of new music. Throughout the year ahead, they will present a wide range of Thea’s solo and chamber music across several concerts in Belfast. Plans include a dedicated ‘portrait concert’ to celebrate Thea’s birthday in May 2027, as well as: a showcase of her flute music in association with the British Flute Society; a Young Artist recital; and a performance of Chamber Concerto No.2 in association with the International Conducting Academy.
London Festival of Contemporary Church Music
Churches across London, 5-16 May 2027
Thea’s music will be at the heart of the 2027 London Festival of Contemporary Church Music, that annually draws around 50 churches and ecclesiastical organisations together to make music. As Artistic Director of the festival, organist and conductor Joseph Fort is making Thea’s choral music the main focus to encourage more churches to make it part of their ongoing repertory. Thea's Missa Brevis will open the festival, performed by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and other performances include To Saint Cecilia performed by the Choir of St Paul’s, Knightsbridge, and Voices of Power and Protest performed by English Chamber Voices. Additional activities include panel discussions about the music, and a ‘come and sing’ event for choral directors seeking fresh inspiration.
Lucy Schaufer – mezzo soprano
Multiple performances, including Aldeburgh Festival, June 2027
Mezzo soprano Lucy Schaufer is set to present Thea’s Suite o’ Bairnsangs as the centrepiece of an imaginative recital programme with pianist Lana Bode, also featuring music by Imogen Holst, Charlotte Bray, Bobbie-Jane Gardner, Adam Guettel, and a new commission from Huw Watkins. Several significant dates for this are set to be announced shortly.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, May 2028
The RLPO is planning to celebrate Thea’s centenary in May 2028 with a performance of Song of the Enchanter at their home, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Written in 1990 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Sibelius’ birth, it will feature alongside his iconic Symphony No.5, conducted by Andris Poga. Further programming, including activities connecting Thea with the RLPO's young composers, and chamber performances by Liverpool Philharmonic’s 10:10, is taking shape.
We are grateful to composer Thea Musgrave and her husband, conductor Peter Mark, for their generous support of these grants, and to RPS Members, who make all of our charitable work possible.
