The five finalists selected are, in alphabetical order:

Chong Kee-Yong (Malaysia) - ‘The Starry Night’s Ripples’
Moritz Eggert (Germany) - ‘Number Nine IV: Scapa Flow’
Paul Frehner (Canada) - ‘Subliminal Media’
Dai Fujikura (Japan) - ‘Calling Timbuktu’
Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez (Mexico) - ‘Afterlight’

Belgium-based Malaysian composer Chong Kee-Yong secured his place in the final after having won the MPO Forum For Malaysian Composers in 2003.

All five works will be performed by the MPO under the baton of the MPOICA’s Director and the MPO’s Associate Conductor, Kevin Field. This concert will be the climax of a two-year planning and a week of intensive rehearsals. These rehearsals start on Tuesday, 23 November 04 and are open to public to watch and share the experience.

The MPOICA’s sole judge, Australian composer, Brett Dean, spent two months perusing all the applications, listening to recordings and studying other works by each applicant. Mr Dean commented, “In its inaugural year, the MPOICA is obviously already very much on the radar of fine young composers from all parts of the globe, judging by the enormous response, high standards and fascinating range of styles. The five selected compositions reflect this sense of stylistic diversity through inspired works of sonic originality, assured technique and a refreshingly vivid, and in some cases, truly theatrical sense of musical _expression. I look forward to the final concert with excitement, curiosity and expectation.”

It will be Mr Dean’s sole decision as to which composer wins the overall competition prize of US$30,000. Members of the audience will award their own prize of US$3,000 to their favourite composer.