Composers and Music Makers all

So begins Arthur O'Shaughbessy's poem about the position of the artist that so inspired Edward Elgar in his 'The Music Makers'. It begs the question; 'Are we world-losers and world-forsakers because we compose music?' We are certainly movers and shakers when it comes to musical creativity. How many musical organisations in our local communities think positively about new music, especially by composers living in their own region? We can be left without any reply to our offers and enquiries, leaving us isolated. We contribute significant compositions where we can, but will our choral music raise its head above the parapet of the very few living composers whose music we see in choral programmes nationally? Do we share the sentiments of Elgar and O'Shaughnessy?