| 2007 British Composer Awards |
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A world of new composition Nominations open for the 2007 British Composer Awards, celebrating their 5th year with the launch of an international award. What is the collective noun for people who write music? A harmony of composers? A cacophony of composers? Maybe there should be a prize for the best suggestion. That mot juste would prove useful on 5th December this year, when the fifth annual British Composer Awards  takes place at Glaziers Hall on the Thames at Southwark."It's the largest annual gathering of composers you'll find in this country," explains Sarah Rodgers, Concert Chair of the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters who host the Awards. "The event last year at the Hayward Gallery was hailed as our best yet and the Awards really are now firmly established as a landmark in the classical music calendar." The Performing Right Society (PRS) once again sponsor this year's Awards. As Ellis Rich, Chairman of PRS says: "PRS has been the sponsor of the British Composer Awards for five years, from its inception; and every year we have watched the event grow in stature and in importance. PRS is proud to continue its support of this event. There is no better way of celebrating the richness of contemporary classical music and of rewarding our members who write it." Nominations for the 2007 Awards open in the middle of May and close on Friday 6th July. Works premiered in the UK between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007 are eligible. As in previous years, anyone can make a nomination, although composers cannot submit their own music. Entry is free and unpublished music is eligible. In twelve of the thirteen categories, the composer must be UK-born or a UK resident of at least five years' standing, but 2007 sees the launch of the BCA's International Award for non-UK composers who have had a British premiere during the qualifying period. "This country is a cultural hub," continues Rodgers. "There's so much going on, and we want to reflect as much of that as possible through the Awards." "The International Award, which, like the established BBC Radio 3 Listeners Award, cuts across genres, will complete the snapshot of this country's contemporary music scene. It's also a conscious recognition of the fact that we belong to a global musical community, and we hope to see reciprocal gestures from other countries. As ever, though, the award will be determined by the quality of the work rather than the composer's reputation." This statement is borne out by the full list of winners from 2006, which "selected from a pool of some 250 nominations" extended well beyond the "usual suspects". Internationalism apart, the homegrown tradition of choral singing is given a special emphasis in 2007. The PRS Foundation for New Music is this year making a £5000 award to the winner of the choral category, while the liturgical category is the subject of a £1000 prize from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. What's more, both the BBC Singers, the UK 's top professional choir, and Chantage, the leading amateur choir which last year won BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year, will perform at the Awards ceremony. The winner of the choral award can choose to put the money towards a commission or career advancement of another kind - for instance, a period of study or help with promoting performances of existing works. As Charlotte Ray, Director of the PRS Foundation, explains: "For the fifth year, the PRS Foundation for New Music is joining the British Academy to provide £5000 towards a new commission or a project, really helping the development of the winning composer's career. We are passionate about enabling such high quality new work to be heard and supporting composers in their careers." Roger Wright summarises the purpose of the Awards and why Radio 3 champions them: "We are currently living in a glorious period for contemporary British musical composition. However there is still a need for wider recognition of the wealth of this compositional talent. At BBC Radio 3 we regularly showcase the best of British new music and promote understanding of these fantastic creative artists. These awards help us to celebrate the richness and diversity of this scene." For further information please contact Natalie Bleicher: Tel: 020 7636 2929 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it www.britishacademy.com May 2007 |
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