We are thrilled to announce that young composer Ronan Apcar is the winner of the 2019 Willgoss Choral Composition Prize!

Following an anonymous adjudication process, Apcar's work Preludes was selected as the winning work from some high-quality entries, to be premiered in September at the evening recital of the Burgundian Consort of UNSW. As the winner, he will receive a $3000 cash prize, thanks to the generous support of Richard and Sue Willgoss, who have now supported this prize for three years.

Ronan Apcar is a rising pianist and composer, who completed his secondary studies at the Conservatorium High School with a double major in composition and piano, and a minor in trumpet. He has continued his music studies, now attending the Australian National University. In his high school years, Apcar premiered his Sketches for Piano, his octet Waltz of the Girl in Tie-Dye, and an orchestral tone poem Aotearoa which he conducted as was broadcast on Fine Music 102.5. Later this year, he will appear as soloist in Shostakovich's Piano Concerto no. 2 with the Penrith Symphony Orchestra.

We look forward to working with Ronan Apcar for the premiere performance of Preludes, and congratulate him on his success.