Ryan, the winner of the 23/24 Prize, is a 24 year old Croydon-based composer who submitted a piece he wrote when we was 17.

He’d struggled for time and capacity to write more string quartet pieces and his undergraduate degree had been mostly during covid, which curtailed opportunities to work with performers live. Before entering the competition, Ryan had only heard his winning piece performed by sixth form students.

After working with Bushra El-Turk in his private mentoring sessions, Ryan says his ‘business brain switched on.’ As a result of winning the prize, he’ll be spending part of his prize fund on a website to promote his practice and work and new microphones to record an EP album of works featuring his composition and singing.

Since entering the prize, Ryan has had new opportunities, including a commission with Birmingham Opera Company and says his experience with LMP has positively influences how he has worked with musicians since. As a result of winning, Ryan now has greater confidence to apply for other competitions, awards and commissions.