2012 British Composer Awards Shortlist Unveiled

BASCA is delighted to announce the 39 works shortlisted for the 2012 British Composer Awards.  The winners in each category will be unveiled at a ceremony at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Monday 3 December.

2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the British Composer Awards, a BASCA initiative launched in 2003.  British Composer Awards Chairman, Sarah Rodgers, said, "In the year in which BASCA presents the British Composer Awards for the 10th consecutive occasion, it is a delight to announce a Shortlist which so clearly demonstrates the range, reach and richness of contemporary composition in the UK today. We are proud to take the lead in celebrating Britain's many talented composers."

The British Composer Awards celebrate the music of composers living and working in the UK, as well as UK premières of works by composers outside the UK.  In order to qualify, the shortlisted work must have been completed within the five years prior to March 2012 and received a public performance – either live or broadcast – in the year leading up to March 2012. With the exception of the International Award, shortlisted composers must be born in the UK or resident for at least 5 years.

The British Composer Awards are presented by BASCA and sponsored by PRS for Music in association with BBC Radio 3 who once again will provide exclusive broadcast coverage of the Awards on Sunday 9 December.

2012 BRITISH COMPOSER AWARDS SHORTLIST

Instrumental Solo or Duo   
Rory Boyle - Burble
Christian Mason - Learning Self-Modulation
Timothy Salter - Three Intermezzi

Chamber           
Thomas Adès - The Four Quarters
Ian Gardiner - spinning and weaving
Raymond Yiu - Les Etoiles au Front

Vocal
Sir Harrison Birtwistle - Angel Fighter
Joe Cutler - Chanticleer and the Opera Fox
Colin Matthews - No Man’s Land

Choral
John Casken - The Knight’s Stone
Jonathan Dove - Two Sonnets
Gabriel Jackson - Airplane Cantata

Wind Band or Brass Band   
Simon Dobson - A Symphony of Colours
Kenneth Hesketh - Danceries (Set II)
Andy Scott - Spirit of Mingus

Orchestral
Julian Anderson - The Discovery of Heaven
Sir Harrison Birtwistle - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Rebecca Saunders - Still

Stage Works           
Gavin Higgins - What Wild Ecstasy
James MacMillan - Clemency
Jocelyn Pook - DESH

Liturgical           
Francis Grier - Missa Brevis
Jonathan Harvey - The Annunciation
Cecilia McDowall - The Lord is Good

Sonic Art           
Matthew Herbert - One Pig
Ray Lee - The Ethometric Museum
Patrick Nunn - Pareidolia I

Contemporary Jazz Composition
Laura Jurd - Giant’s Causeway
Alex Roth - The Charm of Impossibilities
Christine Tobin - Sailing to Byzantium

Community or Educational Project     
Kerry Andrew - A Lock is a Gate
John Barber - We Are Shadows
Paul Rissmann - The Chimpanzees of Happytown

Making Music Award       
Emily Howard - Mesmerism for Piano and Chamber Orchestra
Christopher Hussey - Dreamtide
Matthew Taylor - Storr

International Award       
Brett Dean - Fire Music
Thomas Larcher - Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra  
Kaija Saariaho - Leino Songs

www.britishcomposerawards.com

Saturday 1 December - BBC Radio 3, Hear and Now, 11pm
Monday 3 December - British Composer Awards, Goldsmiths' Hall
Wednesday 5 December - 10th Anniversary Concert, Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall, 7.45pm
Sunday 9 December - BBC Radio 3 Sunday Concert featuring the 2012 British Composer Awards, 2pm