Composers are invited to apply for the Albi Rosenthal Visiting Fellowship at the Bodleian Libraries. Responding to extraordinary times, in 2021 the Fellow will be invited to undertake a period of research using the Special Collections of the Bodleian Libraries, leading to a composition based on the chosen materials, which may be from any collection, including digitized collections accessible via digital.bodleian

In connection with the Fellowship, Oxford Lieder will commission a significant new song or song cycle from the Fellow. The precise nature of this will be open to discussion, but it is anticipated that that the work will be 15-20 minutes duration, and a commission fee (in the region of £2,000) will be paid by Oxford Lieder. The piece should be ready for performance at the Festival in October 2021. In addition, there may be an opportunity for performance of one of the composer’s existing vocal works at an Oxford Lieder Festival event during the 2021 season.

Applications are open to all. Composers at an early stage in their careers are encouraged to apply. There are no geographical restrictions, but note that it is the responsibility of any candidate who is invited to take up the Albi Rosenthal Fellowship to secure any necessary visa to enable a visit to Oxford to participate in a Lieder Festival event.

The Fellowship provides funds of up to £5000 to facilitate visits to Oxford to participate in Oxford Lieder events, participate in events of the Music Faculty, and to carry out research in person at the Bodleian’s Weston Library for Special Collections. These visits must be scheduled by agreement with the Bodleian Libraries and the Lieder Festival.

The Bodleian Libraries’ music collections are among the largest in the country and contain printed music from the 16th century onwards and large numbers of music manuscripts from medieval times to the present day. The Oxford Lieder Festival is well established as one of the world’s leading song festivals and the biggest in the UK, attracting many of the world’s greatest artists.