The nominees for The Ivors Classical Awards 2023 have been announced.
This year's awards ceremony, which was previously known as The Ivors Composer Awards, will take place on 14 November at BFI Southbank in London. PRS for Music is supporting the event, which will be subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 18 November.
11 Ivor Novello Awards will be presented on the night. The eight main category winners will be complemented by the presentation of three Gift of the Academy awards, including the previously announced Academy Fellowship which will go to John Rutter CBE.
A jury of 40 composer judges took part in this year's nomination process — which embraced anonymous judging, where all identifying information is removed from any entered materials — with each judge putting forward between three and five works for each category.
44% of this year's shortlist are first-time nominees, including Jasdeep Singh Degun, Simon Knighton, Angela Elizabeth Slater and Dobrinka Tabakova. Three composers — Brett Dean, Brian Irvine and Hannah Kendall — have received two nominations each.
Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy, said of the announcement: 'The Ivors Classical Awards celebrate the very best new compositions and this year's nominations are no exception. From first-time nominees to Ivor Novello Award winning composers, the shortlist showcases a remarkable diversity of talent and creativity, reflecting the vibrancy and innovation of contemporary classical music. Judged by composers from The Ivors Academy, each Ivor Novello Award symbolises the respect and appreciation music creators have for each other.
'I look forward to celebrating with the nominees and winners on 14 November.'
Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO at PRS for Music, added: 'We are delighted to continue our partnership with The Ivors Academy for these prestigious awards which see 34 remarkable composers and sound artists nominated – talented individuals who will no doubt shape the musical landscape of the classical industry in the UK. For the first time, music publishers also receive greater recognition and credit for their continued belief and support in the contemporary classical community.
'Congratulations to all the nominees, we look forward to celebrating with you at the ceremony in November.'
You can find out more information about The Ivors Classical Awards 2023 by heading here, and you can see the full list of nominees below.
Best Chamber Ensemble Composition
Celebrating classical works composed for four to eighteen instruments, and for one instrument or voice per part.
Disco! Disco! Good! Good? composed by Jasper Dommett for chamber ensemble
Even Sweetness Can Scratch The Throat composed by Hannah Kendall for chamber ensemble
Növények composed by Thomas Adès for mezzo-soprano and piano sextet
Staggered Nocturne composed by Luke Bedford for 14 players and percussion soloist
Why Do You Grieve composed by William Marsey for chamber ensemble
Best Choral Composition
Celebrating classical works specifically composed for voices; either a capella or accompanied.
Kishtatos | קישתתוס composed by Omri Kochavi for 18 voices
Landscape composed by Naomi Pinnock for 6 solo voices
Sol composed by Ben Nobuto for SATB vocal ensemble
Best Community and Participation Composition in association with ABRSM
Celebrating works composed for voluntary, amateur or youth performers and/or community engagement.
Estuary Sound Ark composed by Matthew Herbert
Heroes composed by Harry Castle
It Takes A City composed by Toby Young
Swarm Fanfares composed by Dobrinka Tabakova
Together and Apart composed by Ned Bigham
Best Large Ensemble Composition
Celebrating classical works composed for up to 36 players.
Antigone: Pure In Her Crime composed by Athanasia Kontou for chamber orchestra and mezzo-soprano
ilolli-pop composed by Alex Paxton for ensemble and improvising soloist
Ka composed by Bushra El-Turk for percussion soloist and string orchestra
Shouting Forever Into The Receiver composed by Hannah Kendall for 17 players
Through The Fading Hour composed by Angela Elizabeth Slater for chamber orchestra
Best Orchestral Composition
Celebrating large symphonic works, including works for choir and orchestra.
Archora composed by Anna Thorvaldsdottir for symphony orchestra
Cello Concerto composed by Brett Dean for symphony orchestra and solo cello
Elliptics composed by Emily Howard for orchestra, soprano and countertenor
In This Brief Moment composed by Brett Dean for symphony orchestra and double SATB chorus
Sound Sculpture No. 7 composed by Simon Knighton for orchestra
Best Small Chamber Composition
Celebrating classical works composed for one to three instruments, and for one instrument or voice per part.
Answer Machine Tape, 1987 composed by Philip Venables for solo piano with amplification and KeyScanner device, projection and recorded sound
Comme L’espoir / You Might All Disappear composed by Josephine Stephenson for soprano and guitar
Crow Rotations composed by Larry Goves for soprano, flute/alto flute, alto saxophone, cello and electronics
Silberblau composed by Matthew Grouse for guitar and electronics
The Book Of The Sediments composed by Newton Armstrong for soprano and electronic sounds
Best Sound Art
Celebrating non concert format works which use sound as both their medium and their subject, including installations, sculptural, electroacoustic and audience interactive pieces.
LOL by Olivia Louvel
Machair by Duncan MacLeod
Rites For Crossing Water by Hugh Crewdson Jones and Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian
Best Stage Work
Celebrating works composed for the stage, including opera, dance and musical theatre.
Least Like The Other: Searching For Rosemary Kennedy composed by Brian Irvine
Like Water For Chocolate composed by Joby Talbot
Orpheus composed by Jasdeep Singh Degun
The Scorched Earth Trilogy composed by Brian Irvine
Violet composed by Tom Coult
