London Symphony Orchestra has announced that Laila Arafah and Yunho Jeong have been selected for new commissions through the Helen Hamlyn Panufnik Composers’ Scheme, which supports emerging composers in developing works for symphony orchestra. Their new pieces—of approximately five and ten minutes respectively—will be premiered by the orchestra at the Barbican during the 2026–27 season.
The announcement follows their participation in the 2024–25 edition of the programme, which each year offers six early-career composers the opportunity to write for the orchestra under the mentorship of Colin Matthews and Christian Mason. Participants create a short orchestral piece over twelve months, and two are subsequently invited to develop their work further or compose a new one for a public performance.
Born in South Korea and now based in the United Kingdom, Yunho Jeong studied composition at the Royal College of Music, University of Manchester, and Seoul National University. His music, often inspired by literature, painting, and psychology, has been performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, and TIMF Ensemble, among others. Upcoming projects include a new Violin Sonata commissioned by the Pathway Music Foundation in Korea.
Laila Arafah, a London-based composer currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music, explores ideas of resonance, decay, and temporality in her work. Her pieces have been presented by ensembles such as Talea Ensemble, Explore Ensemble, London Mozart Players, and Quatuor Bozzini, at venues and festivals including Darmstadt, King’s Place, Aspen Music Festival, and the Aldeburgh Festival. Future projects include premieres at Café OTO and The Frick Collection in New York.
Established in memory of composer Sir Andrzej Panufnik and supported by Lady Panufnik, Lady Hamlyn, and the Helen Hamlyn Trust, the scheme continues to play a central role in nurturing new compositional voices within the orchestral world.
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