This year’s British Composer Awards shortlist reveals that today’s leading composers are increasingly inspired by science and technology.
Nominated composers taking inspiration from these disciplines include Eduardo Reck Miranda, whose piece Activating Memory used a Brain-Computer Music Interface instrument – Miranda’s own invention – to enable motor-impaired participants to compose music by detecting electrical brain signals.
Elsewhere, Emily Howard’s Small Chamber shortlisted work, Afference, explores the neural workings of the brain and Fumiko Miyachi’s Au79 is part of a series of works inspired by the periodic table.
In total, 34 composers have been shortlisted for this year’s British Composer Awards, spanning 33 works across 11 categories.
The British Academy of Composers, Songwriters and Authors (BASCA), the organisation behind the awards, said the shortlist highlights the diversity and vibrancy of the UK’s music community.
Twenty percent of nominated composers were born overseas, 38 percent are women (the highest numbers in the Awards’ history), and 50 percent are first-time nominees.
Read the full list of nominees below.
Crispin Hunt, BASCA chairman, said: ‘This year BASCA introduced a number of changes to the submissions and judging process to ensure the British Composer Awards is representative of the wealth and diversity of talent here in the UK.
‘The resulting shortlist announced today is a great snapshot of the creative expression that is contemporary classical, jazz and sonic art. Add to this our two new awards, the recipients of which will be announced at the ceremony, and the 2016 British Composer Awards promises to be a great night. Congratulations to everyone shortlisted today.’
The British Composer Awards are presented by BASCA and sponsored by PRS for Music in association with BBC Radio 3.
Guy Fletcher, PRS for Music chairman, said: ‘Once again we have an outstanding shortlist of innovative composers whose works have been submitted for the British Composer Awards 2016.
‘We at PRS for Music congratulate BASCA for continuing to champion the diversity, originality and excellence of our contemporary composer community and are delighted to continue sponsoring this wonderful event.’
The winners in each category will be announced at the British Film Institute, London, on 6 December 2016.
BBC Radio 3 will broadcast exclusive coverage of the Awards on Hear and Now on 10 December.
2016 British Composer Awards shortlist:
Amateur or Young Performers
I am, I say by Kate Whitley
In Sea-Cold Lyonesse by John Pickard
The Monster in the Maze by Jonathan Dove
Chamber Ensemble
13 Vices by Brian Irvine and Jennifer Walshe
Chamber Symphony No. 2 ‘The Australian’ by Laurence Crane
Freezywater by Leo Chadburn
Choral
Ave Verum Corpus Re-Imagined by Roderick Williams
Noli Pater by James MacMillan
When Time is Broke by Cecilia McDowall
Community or Educational Project
Activating Memory by Eduardo Reck Miranda
Brass Roots; Musical Wings by Lucy Pankhurst
Into the Light by John Webb
Contemporary Jazz Composition
Karembeu's Guide to the Complete Defensive Midfielder by Joe Cutler
Our Lady of Stars | Book of Hours by Sorana Santos
With One Voice by Mark Lockheart
Orchestral
Alba by Rebecca Saunders
Instability by Luke Bedford
Smatter Hauler by Anna Meredith
Small Chamber
A Day at the Spa by Oliver Leith
Afference by Emily Howard
Modus Triplex by Alex Nikiporenko
Solo or Duo
Ampelos by Martin Iddon
Five Memos by Mark Bowden
Misplaced Time Refound by Richard Whalley
Sonic Art
SING SIGN: a close duet by Hanna Tuulikki
Sonorama by Claudia Molitor
Tree Radio by Magz Hall
Stage Works
Between Worlds by Tansy Davies
Nothing by David Bruce
The Cure by Harrison Birtwistle
Wind Band or Brass Band
A Richer Dust by Nigel Clarke
Au79 by Fumiko Miyachi
Just a Vibration by Shri Sriram
For more information on this year’s British Composer Awards visit www.britishcomposerawards.com
Nominated composers taking inspiration from these disciplines include Eduardo Reck Miranda, whose piece Activating Memory used a Brain-Computer Music Interface instrument – Miranda’s own invention – to enable motor-impaired participants to compose music by detecting electrical brain signals.
Elsewhere, Emily Howard’s Small Chamber shortlisted work, Afference, explores the neural workings of the brain and Fumiko Miyachi’s Au79 is part of a series of works inspired by the periodic table.
In total, 34 composers have been shortlisted for this year’s British Composer Awards, spanning 33 works across 11 categories.
The British Academy of Composers, Songwriters and Authors (BASCA), the organisation behind the awards, said the shortlist highlights the diversity and vibrancy of the UK’s music community.
Twenty percent of nominated composers were born overseas, 38 percent are women (the highest numbers in the Awards’ history), and 50 percent are first-time nominees.
Read the full list of nominees below.
Crispin Hunt, BASCA chairman, said: ‘This year BASCA introduced a number of changes to the submissions and judging process to ensure the British Composer Awards is representative of the wealth and diversity of talent here in the UK.
‘The resulting shortlist announced today is a great snapshot of the creative expression that is contemporary classical, jazz and sonic art. Add to this our two new awards, the recipients of which will be announced at the ceremony, and the 2016 British Composer Awards promises to be a great night. Congratulations to everyone shortlisted today.’
The British Composer Awards are presented by BASCA and sponsored by PRS for Music in association with BBC Radio 3.
Guy Fletcher, PRS for Music chairman, said: ‘Once again we have an outstanding shortlist of innovative composers whose works have been submitted for the British Composer Awards 2016.
‘We at PRS for Music congratulate BASCA for continuing to champion the diversity, originality and excellence of our contemporary composer community and are delighted to continue sponsoring this wonderful event.’
The winners in each category will be announced at the British Film Institute, London, on 6 December 2016.
BBC Radio 3 will broadcast exclusive coverage of the Awards on Hear and Now on 10 December.
2016 British Composer Awards shortlist:
Amateur or Young Performers
I am, I say by Kate Whitley
In Sea-Cold Lyonesse by John Pickard
The Monster in the Maze by Jonathan Dove
Chamber Ensemble
13 Vices by Brian Irvine and Jennifer Walshe
Chamber Symphony No. 2 ‘The Australian’ by Laurence Crane
Freezywater by Leo Chadburn
Choral
Ave Verum Corpus Re-Imagined by Roderick Williams
Noli Pater by James MacMillan
When Time is Broke by Cecilia McDowall
Community or Educational Project
Activating Memory by Eduardo Reck Miranda
Brass Roots; Musical Wings by Lucy Pankhurst
Into the Light by John Webb
Contemporary Jazz Composition
Karembeu's Guide to the Complete Defensive Midfielder by Joe Cutler
Our Lady of Stars | Book of Hours by Sorana Santos
With One Voice by Mark Lockheart
Orchestral
Alba by Rebecca Saunders
Instability by Luke Bedford
Smatter Hauler by Anna Meredith
Small Chamber
A Day at the Spa by Oliver Leith
Afference by Emily Howard
Modus Triplex by Alex Nikiporenko
Solo or Duo
Ampelos by Martin Iddon
Five Memos by Mark Bowden
Misplaced Time Refound by Richard Whalley
Sonic Art
SING SIGN: a close duet by Hanna Tuulikki
Sonorama by Claudia Molitor
Tree Radio by Magz Hall
Stage Works
Between Worlds by Tansy Davies
Nothing by David Bruce
The Cure by Harrison Birtwistle
Wind Band or Brass Band
A Richer Dust by Nigel Clarke
Au79 by Fumiko Miyachi
Just a Vibration by Shri Sriram
For more information on this year’s British Composer Awards visit www.britishcomposerawards.com
