Upbeat: Mystic choice

THE WINNER of the Independent / Royal Academy of Music Young Composers' Competition is Edmund Neill of West Norwood, for Je fus mystique, a piece for mixed instrumental ensemble after a poem by Verlaine.

The competition, which was open to students pursuing a course last summer for A-level or the equivalent, was launched at this year's 'RAM Da Capo' festival celebrating contemporary composers who studied at the Academy.

Je fus mystique was a majority choice of the judges, Justin Connolly, Paul Patterson and Robert Maycock. It wins a performance by the Manson Ensemble on 23 March 1994 during the Academy's Schnittke Festival.