Natalie Schäfer on Composing “Pink Speckles”: Inspiration, Collaboration, and Her Award-Winning Journey at the Mozart International Music Competition UK 2025
- WOMCO
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Swedish composer Natalie Schäfer has been awarded the Absolute First Prize for her composition Pink Speckles in the 2025 Season 2 of the Mozart International Music Competition UK, held from 1st May to 1st August 2025, with results published in August. The award-winning work is presented through a live performance recording on 8th June at the Inter Arts Center, Black Room, Malmö, Sweden, featuring the Lumis Ensemble: Inês Paiva (flute), Annina Pritschow (violin), Claudia Besné (harp), and Astrid Nyborg Berg (guitar). The performance was produced by Inês Paiva and Natalie Schäfer, with visual artists Sílvia Ferreira and Maria Inês Lourenço contributing to the interdisciplinary project Mindful Image and Unique Beauty, funded by the Malmö Kulturkraft Stipendiet. Sound mixing was done by Natalie Schäfer, and video editing by Inês Paiva.
Could you please introduce your award-winning composition Pink Speckles? When and under what circumstances was it composed? Could you share the inspiration behind the composition and the message you hope to convey through it?
Natalie Schäfer:
"Pink Speckles was written from January until April 2025 for the interdisciplinary project Mindful Image and Unique Beauty that presents beauty and mainly female beauty as an individual asset, regardless of age, weight, origin, hair and skin color. This project was created to encourage women to reflect on their own interpretation of beauty, to accept themselves more and to be less influenced by the beauty ideals of our time.
It showcases a collaboration between four female composers, four female musicians (Lumis ensemble) and two visual artists. All participating artists were asked to create their pieces/the visual art based on the poem “Mirrors” by Sylvia Plath.
Taking the poem as a source of inspiration brought forth a discussion regarding mirrors and reflections, and how these reflections encompass so much of our lives subsequently connecting to the overall themes of image and beauty. The reflected image portrays an interesting take on how one perceives oneself when confronted with one’s reflection. Many interpretations were taken from this poem, isolating several verses, and using them as a conduct for the written compositions.To the composer the phrase “it is pink, with speckles” was the most striking. For her pink is represented by the note E which marks the beginning and continuous growth of the piece. You can read more about the whole project on our website: https://mindful-unique.com"
How did you collaborate with the musicians who performed your award-winning work Pink Speckles at Inter Arts Center Sweden, and were there any memorable moments during the recording of the performance?
Natalie Schäfer:
"The Lumis Ensemble is a wonderful ensemble to work with as a composer. We had a whole week of rehearsals, a recording session, and two concerts at the end of the week with this ensemble. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to discuss the piece together, find solutions, have lunch together, drink coffee, and talk about our musical lives. It was so much more than just a collaboration. It was a group working together as if we had been doing so for several years, not just a week. Everything felt so natural and harmonious.
I would recommend every composer to check out these great people!“
Could you talk to us about yourself, your journey in music, and your future goals? Could you also share your perspective on what defines a great composer in today’s digital age, and what you consider to be the most significant artistic or professional challenges facing composer today and in the coming years?
Natalie Schäfer:
"I am a person with a very lively mind. As soon as I find something that interests me, I want to learn more about it and engage with it. That's basically how my childhood and youth were in terms of music. I tried to absorb everything I could find or try out.
I started with classical piano, went on to organ and some church music, added classical singing, joined a Big Band, played for some time in a small Jazz Band, was singing in choirs for years, started to play cembalo and lately tried out some drums and trumpet. I studied classical music theory/composition and composition for film and media and really enjoy having composition as my main subject.
For the future, I want to remain open-minded, flexible, and always work in a people-oriented way. In a time where digital tools are becoming stronger and better all the time, I believe that fear is going to slow us down, but curiosity will speed us up.”
Anyone you'd like to thank?
Natalie Schäfer:
"I want to say Thank You to everyone who is participating in the project Mindful Image and Unique Beauty. Just the power of every single person made it possible for me to write the music I have written. Thank you for being so warm hearted, supportive, kind, and inspiring. I can’t wait to move on with our vision."
Biography
„When I write music, it’s always about the people I’m writing for. I like to talk, to explore, to discuss, to have fun and enjoy the process of creating music together.“
Natalie Schäfer is a composer who currently lives in Malmö, Sweden. When composing, she always tries to capture the emotional core of a project. To her visuals and music belong together due to the synesthesia she experiences. Her music writing consists of composing for media, arranging music for various ensembles and capturing her own individual music voice in her original compositions. She has worked with international ensembles and soloists such as the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, the Lumis Ensemble, the Baltic Basson Quartet and solo cellist Elide Sulsenti.
Natalie Schäfer holds a masters degree in honor in composition for film and media from Malmö Academy of Music (Lund University). She is currently studying classical composition at Malmö Academy of Music in the Composition Diploma (soloist) program with Prof. Bent Sørensen and Prof. Staffan Storm.
From November 19th to 23rd she participated the Discovery Campus „Music meets film“ in Tallinn (Estonia) which was part of the Industry@Tallinn&Baltic event 2024. Since October 2024 she is a lecturer in classical music theory and film music at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock in the Northern Part of Germany.
Her music has been awarded in international competitions:
• Absolute First Prize at the Mozart International Music Competition UK (summer 2025) - Best Original Composition
• Silver Award at the KNOTEN International Composition Competition (summer 2025)
• Absolute Winner at the Bach International Music Competition (summer 2024) -Composition
• Diamond Prize at the 5th Georges Bizet International Music Competition - Film and Game Music
• First prize with special mention at the International Classical Music Stars Competition - Composition