At last night’s British Composer Awards winners included two composers from Edinburgh.
Edinburgh-born Oliver Searle won in the Amateur or Young Performer category for Microscopic Dances, which uses digital technologies to provide the opportunity for disabled and non-disabled young musicians to play together in an integrated ensemble. The judges said: “There is nothing microscopic about the ambition and impact of this courageous work”.
Blurring the boundary between art and music, The Harmonic Canon by first-time winner Edinburgh-born Dominic Murcott – part-musical instrument, part public work of art – won in the Solo or Duo category. The work was specially composed for a computer-designed half-ton double bell, created by bell maker Marcus Vergette. It consists of a pair of large bells and a piece of music for them.
The UK’s fourteen foremost composers were revealed at the glittering ceremony, hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Andrew McGregor and Sara Mohr-Pietsch. In addition to the twelve category winners, two composers were presented with Gift of BASCA Awards in recognition of their contribution to new music.
Celebrating the art of composition and showcasing the creative talent of contemporary composers and sound artists, the British Composer Awards are presented by BASCA and sponsored by PRS for Music. The event is in association with BBC Radio 3 providing exclusive broadcast coverage. The winning works represent the best contemporary composition that premiered in the UK in the year leading up to 31 March 2018.
Crispin Hunt, Chair at BASCA, said: “The passion, creativity and dedication to music demonstrated by this year’s winners is deeply inspiring and humbling. A record year for submissions, the new music landscape in Britain proves itself time and again to be more vibrant, dynamic and vivacious than ever, engaging with a diverse range of ideas and audiences. This is a hugely exciting time to be a creator or appreciator of new music.”
Nigel Elderton, PRS Chairman, said: “Congratulations from all of us at PRS for Music to the well-deserved winners from this year’s British Composer Awards, and thank you for the fantastic music you create which continues to enrich our lives.”
BBC Radio 3 will broadcast a programme dedicated to the British Composer Awards at 9.20pm on Sunday 9 December 2018.
For more information on this year’s British Composer Awards visit www.britishcomposerawards.com
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
