The RSCM is delighted to announce Alexandra Skevington as the winner of the 2025 Harold Smart Composition Competition. In a very strong field of entries, Alexandra’s composition made a particularly compelling impression, and the judges were unanimous in their admiration of her work.

Alexandra is an English composer who originally trained as a performer, and then worked in market research and as a primary school teacher before gradually returning to composition and sharing her work. In 2018 she began working professionally as a private teacher and accompanist, while teaching herself orchestration, music technology and film scoring.

Her music has since been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, published commercially, and recognized through awards for chamber works and short film scores. Most recently, Alexandra was mentored on ABRSM’s Writing for Education programme.

Her music is characteristically melodic, drawing on influences from jazz and French impressionism, with a strong emphasis on accessibility and enjoyment for performers and listeners alike.

Alexandra said of her win: ‘I am struggling to contain my excitement! That’s lovely news, thank you ever so much! I am hugely grateful to you all for putting together the YouTube videos – without them, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to submit an entry and they definitely informed my writing choices. Thank you again!’