UWL Lecturer in Composition writing for the London Symphony Orchestra

6 January 2023

Early last year, UWL’s London College of Music (LCM) Lecturer in Composition, Litha Efthymiou, was selected from hundreds of applicants to be one of six emerging composers given the opportunity to write for the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) as part of the Panufnik Composers Scheme.

Since then, Litha has been working closely with musicians from the LSO to produce smaller pieces as she builds up to delivering the orchestral composition later this year.

I have written a string quartet and a wind quintet, which have been workshopped by LSO players, as well as violin and harp solos. I also took part in a percussion workshop,” Litha says. “I've been exploring ideas in these compositions that will eventually find their way into the final orchestral piece.”

An score of piano music is open and shows a piece of music which has been annotated in pencil all over.

All six composers will have their final compositions performed during a public workshop taking place in May 2023 at LSO St Luke’s, the orchestra’s concert venue in Old Street. Two of the compositions will then be chosen to be developed further, before being premiered by the Orchestra in an LSO concert at the Barbican.

It's such a privilege to be working with the best musicians in the country,” Litha adds. “It is every composer’s dream to be writing for the London Symphony Orchestra.”

The London College of Music, which was founded over 130 years ago, is the largest specialist music and performing arts school in the UK and offers a range of specialist undergraduate and postgraduate composition courses.

Composer Blazej Mokrzak standing amongst orchestra in front of seated audience

We are very proud of LCM’s long and illustrious history as one of the UK’s top music schools,” says Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Woodman. “It is wonderful to see Litha’s talent recognised in being selected for this highly prestigious scheme with the LSO. I am sure that it will be enormously beneficial and enriching - both for her own development and for her work with LCM students going forward.”

Find out more about music composition courses at LCM