How do you keep your ideas fresh? How do you resist the temptation to fall back on old habits, the same old fingerprints? If you are a composer, one way might be to swap ‘fingerprints’ with a fellow composer, using the other person’s typical shapes, rhythms and idioms as starting-points for your own new piece.

This is what Julian Broughton and John Hawkins plan to do, with the help of conductor, educator and top clarinettist, Steve Dummer. Our aim is to write new pieces for clarinet and piano in this intriguing way, and to perform them, together with clarinet classics, later this year.

We also want to make the process more accessible than usual. How?

1. We will encourage people to ask questions about the work in progress, from initial thoughts to first performance.

2. We will involve selected students in future performances, and in their own composition projects (which may draw on the same ‘fingerprints’).

3. We will then seek grants to enable extra performances, further participation and eventual publication.

4. We will write pieces intended to be useful and enjoyable for advanced clarinet students.

We need to begin by raising £3000. This will cover performing fees (£500 each for the two artists), and the cost of composing the new pieces (1000 for each composer).

• Donors of over £50 will appear on the printed scores and will receive a free concert ticket for the first performance.

• All those donating £100 or more will receive personal dedications and signed copies of the music.

Julian Broughton, pianist and composer, is a graduate of Cambridge University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He studied composition with Robin Holloway and Robert Saxton, and privately with David Matthews. Julian has extensive experience of adult education, having devised and taught the BA in Creative Studies at the University of Sussex.

John Hawkins studied with composers Malcolm Williamson and Elisabeth Lutyens. His CD of music for clarinet (with Steve Dummer) which includes a Sonata, Trio and Concerto was released in 2020. His ‘Night Run’ for clarinet and piano is published in Faber Music’s ‘Unbeaten Tracks’ series and was selected as an ABRSM selected piece (Clarinet 2008-2013).

Steve Dummer was a student of the late, great clarinettist Jack Brymer and now gives regular concerts throughout the UK and in sessions for radio and television. He is also a conductor, educator and all-round enthusiast for participation in music making at every level. He is musical director of Kidenza, founder and musical director of both Talkestra and Stane Street Sinfonietta, a regular tutor and conductor at Dartington International Summer and a member of the great Speakeasy Revival Orchestra.