■2020 1st Prize Sebastian Androne-Nakanishi(Romania)
The Pilgrim Soul

・How did you know this competition? and what motivated you to apply?
I knew about this competition since 2014 when I wanted to apply with a choral piece that I had already written. I searched online for composition competitions for choir and this caught my eye, especially because of the opportunity to have your piece performed. The second reason was that it is based in Japan and I really wanted to have another opportunity to revisit the home country of my father-in-law. I did win it, but the pandemic took away from me the trip to Japan.

・How did you feel when you won the competition?
It was really early in the morning when it was announced online on YouTube. I was awake though along with my wife and my 2-months old boy. When I realized that I won, although tired and stripped of any kind of energy I was still able to hug my wife (with some tears in my eyes) and really be grateful for this honour!

・How did you feel when your piece was first premierd by the Metropolitan chorus of Tokyo?
I was walking my son when it was premiered. I quite liked it and felt how much work was invested in playing it.

・Please send a message for next applicants.
Never write to win. I try to avoid that as much as possible. I wrote the piece after I asked my wife to choose some of her favourite English poems. I then wrote the piece mainly for her and to make it as enjoyable as possible for me too. That's all there is to it. Make the music that you like most and let it fly.

・Your age/ country
31. From Romania, currently overspecializing in Film Music in Zurich (Switzerland).