2009 British Composer Awards announced
Posted on December 15, 2009
Sir John Tavener, John Adams, Graham Fitkin and Gabriel Jackson were among the winners of this year’s British Composer Awards, announced yesterday.
The Awards are presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) and sponsored by PRS for Music, the copyright organisation. Now in their seventh year, this was the first time a prize for Contemporary Jazz was included, which was won by composer and saxophonist Jason Yarde for his BBC Prom commission, Rhythm and Other Fascinations, about which the judges said “we were immediately gripped by its gravitas and beautiful harmonic language – a powerful and emotional piece”.
More than 300 submitted works, which had to have been premiered in the year from April 1, 2008, were considered. The ceremony will be broadcast tomorrow evening (Wednesday December 2) on BBC Radio 3 at 7pm.
The full list of winners:
| Vocal | John Casken | The Dream of the Rood |
| Instrumental Solo or Duo | Thomas Simaku | Soliloquy V, Flauto Acerbo |
| Liturgical | John Tavener | Ex Maria Virgine |
| Community or Educational Project | Mira Calix | My Secret Heart |
| Chamber | Alexander Goehr | Since Brass, Nor Stone |
| Sonic Art | Mark Peter Wright | A Quiet Reverie |
| International | John Adams | Doctor Atomic |
| Orchestral | Simon Holt | a table of noises |
| Stage Works | Graham Fitkin | Reel |
| Making Music | Elizabeth Winters | The Serious Side of Madness |
| Wind Band or Brass Band | Adam Gorb | Farewell |
| Choral | Gabriel Jackson | The Spacious Firmament |
| Contemporary Jazz Composition | Jason Yarde | Rhythm and Other Fascinations |
For more about the Awards and the winning entries, visit the website of BASCA.
Article published on 2 December 2010 at www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/2009-british-composer-awards-announced