Composer
“A young composer of real talent... In particular her ability to set her own texts intelligently and effectively marks her out as a choral writer of significant potential. ”
— Jeff Wynn-Davis
After completing her BA in music at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Lydia went on to complete an MA in composition at Leeds College of Music in 2010. Since then she has been working as a freelance composer for various choirs and choral societies in the UK, and receiving performances around the world. In 2007 Lydia was commissioned by the Guernsey Glee singers, which resulted in a performance of 'The Land Where I was Born' at the Praga Cantat in Prague 2007. In 2009 her choral work "The Year Suite" was premiered by the Liberation Singers, and she was commissioned by the Guernsey Choral Society for Christmas 2010, a performance which was recorded for BBC broadcasts. Lydia has also been a finalist for several competitions, including the 'National Centre for Early Music's Young Composer Award', 'Australian Boys Choir Choral Composing Competition'. Most recently she was the winner of the Nathan Davis prize for Composition, awarded at the Young New Yorker's Chorus Young Composer Competition in March 2018. Lydia's music frequently takes her abroad, as along side competitions she has taken part in various workshops and institutes, including the Composers Workshop for the Charlotte New Music Festival, the Lehigh Choral Composers Forum, and most recently the Choral Chameleon Institute in New York. At such events her work has been commissioned, performed and recorded by professional ensembles, including The Princeton Singers, The Great Noise Ensemble and The Empire City Men's Chorus.
Lydia's music is available for purchase as digital copies direct from her store pages, but also from the following retailers:
http://www.musicnotes.com
https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com
https://www.sheetmusicplus.com
http://www.swirlymusic.org/composer/lydia-jane-pugh
Lydia's chamber piece, 'Voul-ous enne P'tite Goute?' is also available on Ablaze Records Millennial Masters Volume 9, which can be purchased by following the link below:
https://www.ablazerecords.net/millennial-masters-1/ar-00049-millennial-masters-vol-9
Lydia's solo cello piece, 'Carolina's Jig' has been released on the album 'Division of Memory', (October 8th 2021) through Navona Records. You can purchase the album here:
https://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6373/
You can also visit Lydia's Artist pages::
https://www.navonarecords.com/artists/lydia-jane-pugh/
https://www.mcicomposers.com/lydia-jane-pugh
Awards
2023:
- BHVivaVox Call for Scores (Winner, 'My Hiding Place')
2022:
- Global Music Awards (Bronze Award (Finalist); 'Carolina's Jig' featured on Divisions of Memory')
2019:
- Edwin Fissinger Composition Competition (2nd Prize; 'My Hiding Place (Psalm 32)')
- Manchester Chorale Composition Competition (3rd Prize; 'Your Words Give Light (Psalm 119)')
2018:
- Nathan Davis Prize, Young Composers Award (Winner; Adiraï (Misplaced)')
2016:
- Shouthouse NYC Call for Scores (Finalist)
- Ravel International Composition Competition (Finalist)
2014:
- Australian Boys Choir Choral Composers Competition (Finalist; Northern Star)
- Song of the Year (Semi-Finalist; '1945')
- UK Songwriting Contest (Commended Entry; '1945')
- UK Songwriting Contest (Commended Entry; 'Island of Silence')
2012:
- National Centre for Early Music's Young Composer Award (Finalist; 'A la Perchoine')
- Songdoor International Songwriting Competition; Soft-Rock Category (Finalist; '1945')