British Composer Awards

The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) announced the winners in 13 categories of the 2012 British Composer Awards on 3 December at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. Of the 13 categories, nine have been awarded to new winners including Emily Howard in the Making Music category for her work Mesmerism for Piano and Chamber Orchestra.

The Making Music category of the awards is presented to a composer of a new work for a voluntary or amateur music group. Emily’s piece Mesmerism for Piano and Chamber Orchestra was commissioned by the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra, a Making Music member, in its Diamond Jubilee Year with support from the PRS for Music Foundation.

About the British Composer Awards

The British Composer Awards celebrate the music of today’s composers living and working in the United Kingdom, as well as UK premières of work by composers from outside the UK.

The awards are sponsored by PRS for Music in association with BBC Radio 3, with exclusive coverage on Radio 3 leading up to the ceremony, and a special show featuring winning recordings being broadcast once the ceremony has taken place. The winners are also announced in specialist music magazines including Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine.

The awards are presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), the professional association for music writers of all genres in the UK. With over 2,000 members, BASCA is the voice for British music creators.

This year, the Making Music category has been widened to celebrate all works written for voluntary, amateur or youth ensembles. Nominating a work for this category is a great opportunity to throw a spotlight on your group and composers who have written for you. Nominations for the 2012 Britich Composer Awards have now closed (12 July). Results will be announced in December 2012.

Making Music Award Winner 2011

The 2011 Making Music Award went to Richard Bullen for his piece I can’t find brumm…, composed through a partnership with Midlands Fretted Orchestra as part of Adopt a Composer 2009. The winners were announced in a ceremony in London’s Stationer’s Hall on 30 November 2011.

Visit the British Composer Awards website for further information.