A STUDENT from Wareham, a counsellor from London and a former art teacher from Southsea have been announced as the winners of the inaugural Lark Music-Making prize, in conjunction with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. They have each won £1,000.

The competition, which is sponsored by Lark Music Insurance, was launched by the BSO in the spring to celebrate amateur music-making. It encouraged UK-based instrumentalists to submit a short recording of music inspired by birds.

Amy Jordan, a student from Wareham, has won the 18-24 category for The Starling. The bittersweet composition for solo piano aims to bring awareness to both the birds’ beauty and their plight as one of the UK’s fastest declining bird species.

The 25-39 category winner is Llewella White, a counsellor from London, who was similarly inspired by starlings. The birds’ murmuration reminded her of the choices we make in love, to turn towards each other – her solo performance on harp reflects this.

Guitarist Rob Johnston has won the 40-plus category for a performance inspired by nature’s own orchestra – a 5am dawn chorus of woodland birds, heard during a camping trip near Petworth.

The panel of expert judges featured musicians, broadcasters and producers from across the industry, and included presenter Tom Service, violinist Tania Davis and conductor Enyi Okpara.