In autumn 2024, the Kimie Composition Prize took place in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and supported by Kimie Trust. The recipient, Connor Bristow, composed a new piece for ASN audiences, specially written for, and performed by, No Borders String Trio.
For over a decade, Live Music Now Scotland has worked with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to give an outstanding composition student, undergraduate or post-graduate, the opportunity to compose a piece of music for interactive performance in outreach settings such as those which form the bedrock of the work of Live Music Now Scotland. The recipient, Connor Bristow, composed the wonderful piece, ‘Dancing in Faerie’, for ASN audiences, specially written for, and performed by, No Borders String Trio. Connor Bristow said:
“A massive thank you to everyone involved for this wonderful opportunity, it has been brilliant. I couldn’t be happier with the piece so thank you No Borders for bringing it to life so expertly and for injecting your own life into the piece.”
Programme Note:
This piece is inspired by Scottish and wider Celtic folklore surrounding Faeries. The first movement Swaying in The Seelie Court imagines a dance with the ‘nice’ faeries and the magic surrounding them. Teine Sith explores the magic of Faerie Fire and the magical but mysterious nature of this substance. Mischief in the Unseelie Court exemplifies the rude and occasionally malevolent nature of the Faeries of the Unseelie Court. A Party in Tir-Na-N’Og follows a birthday party being celebrated by the Faeries with dancing and reverie around. This movement features a quotation and re-imaging of ‘Happy Birthday’ as it might sound in Faerie to celebrate Live Music Now Scotland’s 40th Anniversary.
– Connor Bristow
“We have been really excited and honoured to have Connor’s piece written for us, the whole experience has been very enjoyable! It opened doors for us and by talking with Connor we might have new ideas coming up in the future!” – No Borders String Trio
‘Dancing in Faerie’ Movements:
Mvt I. Swaying in the Seelie Court
Mvt II. Teine Sith
Mvt III. Mischief in the Unseelie Court
Mvt IV. A Party in Tir Na-N’Og
LMNS would like to thank everyone involved:
Kimie Trust
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Oliver Searle – RCS Head of Composition
Oscar Dash – RCS Recording Engineer
No Borders Trio Frances Patterson (violin), Suzanne Godet (viola) and Joanna Stark (cello).
Photos from the recording session:




About the Kimie Compostion Prize:
Working closely with experienced LMNS musicians, a new work is written for the student’s chosen audience, either older people in care or children with additional support needs. The piece is workshopped with staff and fellow composers at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the finished work is then performed in the selected settings, professionally studio-recorded and formally submitted as part of the composer’s academic assessment.
This composition initiative, opening up awareness among emerging composers of writing for a diverse range of audiences, is a partnership between Live Music Now Scotland and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The Kimie Composition Prize is supported by Kimie Trust.