Looks like I'm heading stateside again! I am honoured to announce that I have been commissioned to write a brand new piece of music for the Empire City Men's Chorus in New York City. The piece (titled 'Love is Enough') will be premiered in New York on Saturday 1st June as part of their 25th Anniversary Gala, and I will also be attending the final rehearsals and the premiere. This is hugely exciting for me, as it is my first major commission as a composer on an international level. Can't wait to hear the finished piece! 

On the 21st September, my piece 'Adiraï (Misplaced)', which was awarded the Nathan Davis Prize in composition earlier in the year at the Young New Yorker's Chorus Young Composers Competition, was performed in a special concert by the by the BBC Singers. 

'The Refugee Experience', organised in conjunction with BASCA (British Academy of Composers, Songwriters and Authors) took place at St Paul's Knightsbridge in London, and showcased amazing new music by incredible composers from across the UK and Europe. What an honour to have been a part of it! 

The concert was also recorded by BBC Radio 3 for future broadcast, so watch this space! 

I'm absolutely delighted to announce that I have been invited to join The Voice College Core Team, as a tutor, and primarily as a course content designer for their online platform. 

I'm so excited and incredibly honoured to have been asked to join this superb team of vocal coaches at the college that has given me so much opportunity and taught me so much! Look out for my first course coming soon!  

I am so delighted to announce that my piece 'Adiraï (Misplaced)', which was awarded the Nathan Davis Prize in composition earlier in the year at the Young New Yorker's Chorus Young Composers Competition, has been selected for a concert by the BBC Singers! 'The Refugee Experience' will take place on 21st September at St Paul's Knightsbridge, London. 

This is such an amazing opportunity and I'm so excited to hear their performance of this piece which means so much to me!

I was absolutely delighted and humbled to learn that one of my students had nominated me for Guernsey Pride's 'Arts Contribution Award' for 2018, and to read all the lovely things she said about me! Sometimes, being so heavily involved in the arts, it's easy to forget that the things you do can mean a great deal to someone else - thanks Emily for the nomination! 

https://prideofguernsey.com/moreinfo/1310/pride-of-guernsey-lydia-pugh

2018 has proven to be off to an amazing start. I travelled to New York City to participate in the Young New Yorker's Chorus' Young Composer Competition, as one of three finalists who were each commissioned to write a new work for the concert on the 24th March 2018. My piece, 'Adiraï (Misplaced)' written on reflection of the evacuation of the Channel Islands during World War 2, was announced as the winner of the Nathan Davis Prize for Composition. I am so truly honoured to have been chosen as a finalist, let alone to have won, and it was the most amazing way to round off an incredible week of music, friends and new experiences in New York City. 

Here's a link to the Bailiwick Express press report about my success: 
https://gsy.bailiwickexpress.com/gsy/news/local-composer-putting-guernsey-map/#.Wwa6htXwYy7 

2017 just keeps getting better and better! I have been selected as one of three finalists for the Young New Yorker's Chorus Young Composer Competition 2018 - this means I'll be writing a brand new piece for YNYC to perform at the finals in New York, March 2018. So proud and excited for this amazing opportunity! Stay tuned for my next trip to the big apple for another choral music premiere! 

So, not only was I awarded my Advanced Professional Diploma with Distinction from the Voice College in July 2017, making me a fully qualified practitioner of the voice, I was subsequently shortlisted and then awarded the The P.J. Proby Award for Achievement as student of the year. I'm so unbelievably proud to have even been shortlisted for this award, let alone to be the winner, as the standard of was so high - truly amazing! 

You may remember that my piece 'Vous-lous enne P'tite Goute?' (which was commissioned and premiered by the Great Noise Ensemble at the Charlotte New Music Festival in 2015) was selected to be featured on the new music blog 'Composer's Toolbox' - well my analysis/review has now been published on the blog, and you can read the amazing insights of my composer colleague Dan Lis by clicking on the link below

Big thanks to Dan for his detailed and well-written insights on my music, and for producing this blog in the first place - it's a great resource for those that want to know more about the new music of today, whether you're a composer, performer, or just love music! I highly recommend reading more off what this blog has to offer! 

https://composerstoolbox.com/2017/08/23/lydia-jane-pugh-voul-ous-enne-ptite-goute/ 

I'm am so very pleased to announced that I have received a Distinction for my Advanced Professional Diploma in Teaching Contemporary Singing, awarded by The Voice College. I was awarded the John Owen-Jones Award (one of their scholarships) in April 2016, and have now completed my diploma, making me a fully qualified vocal practitioner. It's been an amazing time of learning with The Voice College - I could not be happier!