“A Song For The Commonwealth”, written by Simon Haw MBE, wins
Commonwealth Music Competition 2016 - Music for Peace & Development
“A Song For The Commonwealth” which was written by the composer Simon Haw, has been awarded First Prize in the Commonwealth Music Competition 2016 – Music for Peace & Development.
Having won First Prize, Simon Haw has become Commonwealth Music Ambassador 2016 – 2018 and over the next 24 months he will be taking part in various music education and performance initiatives involving musicians from across the Commonwealth.
Congratulating Simon Haw on having written such an excellent song for the Commonwealth, Paul Carroll, Artistic Director and Composer-in-Residence of the Commonwealth Orchestras and Choirs, commented: “through both the lyrics and music of this song, you have caught the Commonwealth spirit of inclusiveness and respect for diversity. We all very much look forward to our music collaborations across the Commonwealth going forward.”
The Chairman of the Commonwealth Music Council and Commonwealth Orchestras and Choirs, Professor David Rowland, said in his congratulatory speech: “the Commonwealth Children’s Choir have greatly enjoyed working with you and recording A Song For The Commonwealth with the Household Division, and in a very short time you have already fully engaged with them all and we are delighted that that we will be working closely with you on some very exciting performances in the near future”.
On receiving the award, Simon Haw responded “I am delighted to hear that A Song For The Commonwealth has been awarded First Prize in the Commonwealth Music Competition 2016 and as such will be the featured song for all entrants in both the Commonwealth Children’s Choir Competition 2016 and the Commonwealth Community Choir Competition 2016. I am delighted that you have accepted my offer to use the song, without any cost, in support of the Commonwealth Orchestras and Choirs’ mission to use music as a means of international dialogue, knowing no boundaries.”
Major Simon Haw MBE
A Song For The Commonwealth
Major Simon Haw MBE is currently the Director of Music of the Coldstream Guards Band. He joined the Band of the Welsh Guards in 1988 as trumpet player and later became its Staff Arranger, he graduated from the Royal Military School of Music and was awarded the Medal for the Best All Round Student Bandmaster of the year. Simon has been Bandmaster to the Band of the Prince of Wales's Division, Director of Music Scots Guards and of Queen's Division.
Primarily engaged as a conductor, Simon is a distinguished composer and music arranger in a wide range of genres.