University of Bristol - Raymond Warren Prize in Composition

Raymond Warren Prize in Composition

You will receive a cash prize for outstanding achievement or evident potential in the field of musical composition, awarded by the Department of Music at the University of Bristol. The amount of the prize is not disclosed. You will use it during the following academic year to further your development as a composer, for example to compose and record new works, fund rehearsals and performances, or take part in international workshops. The prize may be shared amongst the winners. In 2025, two PhD students shared the prize. It is named after Professor Raymond Warren (1928–2025), who taught composition at Bristol for many years.

Who can apply

• Level: You are currently enrolled on the Master’s degree programme in Music at the University of Bristol.
• Field: You work as a composer.
• Merit: As a composer, you can demonstrate outstanding achievements or great potential.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

First, speak to your composition tutor. You should then send an application form to the Head of Department (Music), which you can obtain from the Music Secretariat. Your application must include an overview of your compositional achievements and a plan detailing how you intend to use the prize money. The deadline for applications is 7 July.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is very specific: it is aimed exclusively at Master’s students studying music at a particular university, who are assessed on the basis of their compositional works. The pool of applicants is therefore small. If you already have a solid body of compositional work and a clear, concrete plan for how you would use the prize money, your chances are good. The prize can also be shared, meaning that more than one person can win in a given year.