Martin Read Foundation

The 2026 edition of our Annual Festival was a win-win for all involved 🎵 This was MRF doing what it has set out to do: supporting and inspiring young composers, while bringing quality opportunities for exploring contemporary music to a wider audience. Roll on next year!

Join us Sunday 19th at The Nutshell Winchester for our annual festival! Don’t miss this showcase of our young composers, featuring the inspirational London Chamber Ensemble Quartet playing their premieres, with string players & singers from the community- 6pm doors, 6:30 concert

Fantastic day at @RCMLondon for the premieres by our award holders, presided by our patron & former Master of the Queen’s Music Judith Weir. Wonderful to have partnered with the Jr Dept, including some of our own alumni). Next up, festival day, 19/4 at The Nutshell in Winchester.

Join us for our exciting Annual Festival 2026, in Winchester for the first time on April 19th at The Nutshell🎵 Secure your spot by grabbing participant or audience tickets at our website NOW (link in bio), to witness the world premieres of our young composers’ pieces for LCEQ 🎻

Scheme 26 has begun! Our award holders will be writing for str quartet 🎻 Welcome Carlos, Ernest, Immy, Matthew & Tasha who met on-line w/ mentors before the first event Intro to Writing for String Quartet’ led by LCEQ at RCM 🎵 MRF library available ahead of premieres on 21/3!

HNY‘26! Fab year, recording new Wood @SOMMRecordings for ‘26 release @EMF_music @ThreeChoirs 🙏@cvs_society @VWFndn, sold out 🎹trio @LeightonHouse_ Quartet @hhh_concerts @MusicinCC & @pinnermusicfest Jan ‘26 @MReadFoundation Patron @ErrollynWallen +Messiaen 27.1 @Riverhousebarn

🚨 The applications are in… awards for 2026 are coming soon! 🚨 #MartinReadFoundation #ContemporaryMusic #YoungComposers #Composition

We are thrilled to announce that Master of the King’s music @ErrollynWallen CBE has joined the Martin Read Foundation as patron 🎵 if you’re still considering whether to go for this year’s young composers’ scheme, read Errollyn’s words below & apply here😄 tinyurl.com/3ecrtke4

Tomorrow at Winchester New Hall, Winchester Community Choir is celebrating their 20th anniversary with Andover Museum Loft Singers & takeNOTE, raising money for the Martin Read Foundation! We’re delighted to be involved in such a great event, tickets here: winchestercommunitychoir.com/event-details/…

⚠️Calling aspiring composers aged 14-17! Scheme ‘26 is now launched🎻This year we’ve partnered with the @LonChamberEns &, for a second year, @RCMLondon Jr Dept 🎵 Successful applicants will receive a commission, mentoring, live workshop & performance martinreadfoundation.org/composers-sche…

Pedal4Pounds was a great success! Trustees, friends and supporters cycled 76 miles from Winchester to Oxford to raise an amazing £1,261 🚲 this money will continue to support young composers and promote contemporary music, donations still open at crowdfunder link in our bio 🙏🏻

Introducing 2 of the Pedal4Pounds team, getting the miles in their legs throughout the summer. Final long weekend ride today ahead of challenge. Huge thanks to all our supporters- our total is in reach! crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mrf-pedal-fo…

Pedal4Pounds is BACK on TRACK on September 27-28th! April’s injuries long mended, we’re looking forward to this cycling challenge from Winchester to Oxford. Help us to raise the £1,000 required to provide mentoring for our 2026 award-holders crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mrf-pedal-fo…

Thanks to those who have already supported #Pedal4Pounds our sponsored cycle ride from Winchester to Oxford. Sadly this is currently cancelled, due to one of our small cycling cohort having an altercation with a patch of oil 🚲 Rescheduled to September ‘25, WATCH THIS SPACE!

At this year’s festival, trustee/alumnus @FreddieHodkin ‘s piece ‘Sanctus’ will be premiered by @commotio_choir & members of the festival choir, which you can JOIN at the link in our bio! Plus, donate to #Pedal4Pounds ⬇️ martinreadfoundation.org

MRF’s newest patron is composer Alan Bullard. As a former teacher of 3/5 trustees, & Martin himself, he brings his excellent reputation to MRF, joining our other patrons Master of the King’s music Judith Weir, and composers Howard Skempton and Gwyneth Herbert. Welcome Alan! 🎵

Support us through our sponsored bike ride ahead of Festival ‘25 & album launch for ‘Martin Read- a celebration’! Cycle 68 miles from Winchester to Oxford, the home of this year’s performers in residences Commotio. Register to join the ride or donate HERE: martinreadfoundation.org/fundraising-fo…

Participant profile: Cellist Joseph Spooner 🎻 Renowned performer and long-time friend/supporter, Joseph will join @Commotio_choir & the festival choir (Link below) in Taverner’s ‘Svyati’ & help launch the new CD ‘Martin Read- a celebration’ CD martinreadfoundation.org/events/mrf-fes…

Excellent starting points workshop on Wednesday with @Commotio_choir & our 4 award holders. Premieres at MRF Festival ‘25, St Lawrence Church, Alton, Sunday 27th April. Link in bio for festival ensemble registration and concert/ ‘Martin Read- a celebration’ CD launch tickets 🎟️