Three special Gift of the Academy Awards were presented to Anne Dudley, Anoushka Shankar and Debbie Wiseman. Anne Dudley was inducted into Academy Fellowship, becoming the 33rd Fellow of The Ivors Academy, Anoushka Shankar was presented with the Innovation Award recognising her boundary pushing works, and Debbie Wiseman became the inaugural recipient of the new award for Outstanding Contribution to Screen Composition, recognising her extraordinary body of work across film and television.
A further 8 composers and librettists were recognised across six categories, with Ivor Novello Awards going to composers Anibal Vidal, Anna Clyne, Helen Grime, Jonathan Dove, Luke Mombrea and Nneka Cummins, and librettists April De Angelis and Zoe Gilbert.
The ceremony was hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Tom McKinney and Kate Molleson, with guest presenters including director, comedian and actor Chris Addison, composer and musician Nitin Sawhney, former captain of the England men’s rugby union team Chris Robshaw, singer Camilla Kerslake and composer and turntablist Shiva Feshareki.
BBC Radio 3 will broadcast the ceremony on 15 November in a special edition of the New Music Show and the episode will also be available on BBC Sounds. The Ivors Classical Awards are supported by PRS for Music and in association with BBC Radio 3. Presto Music is the exclusive streaming partner for the Awards and Dorico sponsored the Best Orchestral Composition award. The Musicians’ Union returned as the sponsor of the Innovation Award, while the ABRSM sponsored the Best Community and Participation Composition award.
The six categories are judged anonymously, with all identifying information removed from materials seen by the judges. A jury of 30 composer judges from The Ivors Academy considered over 220 works entered for this year’s Awards, resulting in 29 nominated works in the shortlist.
Roberto Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy, said: “The Ivors Classical Awards celebrate the art and importance of composition in all its forms, honouring the imagination, skill and dedication that go into creating new music. Each Ivor Novello Award is a unique moment of peer recognition for the most important people in music - its composers. Tonight shows why it’s essential that composers are supported, valued and fairly rewarded for their work."
Sam Jackson, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms, said: “Congratulations to all of tonight’s winners, whose creativity is shaping music in exciting new ways. Championing contemporary composers is at the heart of what we do and we are proud that the BBC remains the biggest commissioner of new music in the country. Through broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 3 Unwind, music by some of Britain’s most talented composers can be heard by audiences across the UK. We are grateful for our partnership with The Ivors Academy, and we look forward to sharing highlights from this evening’s celebration on the New Music Show this Saturday.”
Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO, PRS for Music, said: “Congratulations to this year’s Ivor Novello Classical Award winners – your achievements speak to the range and vitality of composition across the UK. And to every nominee, being shortlisted for an Ivor is a milestone in itself and a testament to the strength of your work. Tonight’s winners are pushing the art form forward with boldness and brilliance, bringing new audiences to contemporary music. PRS for Music is proud to stand with The Ivors Academy in championing outstanding composers, and to ensure creators are recognised and fairly rewarded whenever their works are performed and enjoyed.”
