NOTION Music Names Inal Bilsel as Grand Prize Winner, Realize Music Challenge
LONDON, U.K. (March 21, 2007) — NOTION Music, a leading maker of music composition and performance software, is pleased to announce that Inal Bilsel of London U.K. is the grand prize winner of the company’s first Realize Music Challenge, a competition that drew entries from composers across the globe.
As the grand prize winner, Bilsel will now record his composition in a three-hour recording session with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. In addition, Bilsel will receive a copy of NOTION software and a cash prize of $2,500 (£1,277).
“Part of our mission is to showcase the immense talent of new composers,” said Lori Jarrett, chief executive officer, NOTION Music. “Musicians from all over the world used NOTION software to take our Realize Music Challenge. We were very impressed with the diverse range of the entries.”
Bilsel’s winning composition, titled “Nilay’s Dream” is an orchestral overture revealing his influences in atonal and jazz music. Having completed a master’s degree in composition from the University of London’s Royal Holloway, Bilsel has a number of works to his credit. Some of which have been performed in concert by such noted performers as violinist Vladimir Kostov.
“I enjoyed using NOTION. It was very easy to learn and input notation,” said Bilsel, Realize Music Challenge grand prize winner. “I will definitely continue to use it, and I recommend it to every composer who is looking for easy-to-use software as well as a program that creates quality sounding demos.”
Among the hundreds of entries submitted, finalists in three other categories were selected in recognition for their compositions. Ian Cugley, also from the UK, was chosen for the Accomplished Composer award designed to recognise composers 25 years of age and older. Cugley resides in Ramsgate, Kent.
Nathaniel Daw from Leongatha, Victoria in Australia, was named the winner of the Emerging Composer category of entrants from 18 to 24 years of age; and Lucas Porter from Port Williams, Nova Scotia in Canada, was named Young Composer amongst entrants under the age of 18 years. All three finalists will be given a copy of NOTION software and a $1,000 cash prize. To view Realize Music Challenge winner photos and hear winning compositions, visit www.notionmusic.com/win/.
The expert panel of judges who chose the winners among hundreds of entries included: Charles Strouse, known for his Broadway legacy, “Bye Bye Birdie;” Joby Talbot, best known for music in films such as “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse;” and Hummie Mann, two-time Emmy-award winning composer, recognised for his original score in Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.”
Composers created and submitted entries between June and November of 2006, and the judging concluded in February. NOTION Music plans to release details about the 2007 Realize Music Challenge in September.
