The clarinettist and composer Mark Simpson (born in 1988) has today been announced as the BBC Philharmonic's new Composer in Association.

Simpson won the 2006 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition playing Nielsen's Clarinet Concerto. He also won the BBC Proms Young Composers Competition in the same year, making him the first person to win both competitions. Simpson is a former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and has an exclusive publishing contract with Boosey & Hawkes.

His new role with the BBC Philharmonic, which runs from September 2015 until 2019 will involve the composition of three new orchestral works, and the Philharmonic will also perform his existing music for orchestra. 

Simpson says, 'I'm thrilled to accept this role as Composer in Association with the BBC Philharmonic. To be given the opportunity to develop my work and build a solid relationship with an orchestra of such calibre, over this time period, is a dream. I can't wait for it to begin.' 

The General Manager of the BBC Philharmonic, Simon Webb commented: 'The BBC Philharmonic proudly champions great British music and Mark is one of the brightest stars of the new generation of brilliant young composers in the UK. This new role will give Mark the space and time to continue to develop his already distinctive and compelling compositional voice.'

Four years ago, Mark Simpson teamed together with pianist Ian Buckle to produce a varied programme of contemporary music by British composers written for clarinet (and basset clarinet) and piano, including his own Lov(escape) on NMC Recordings.

In the video below, Simpson performs his own Echoes and Embers with pianist Vikingur Olafsson in a recording dating from his time as a BBC New Generation Artist: