The first Ivors Composer Week has been launched to mark the 20th anniversary of The Ivors Composer Awards, which celebrate the best new works by composers writing for classical, jazz and sound art. Ivors Composer Week will take place from the 14th to 20th November, with the winners of this year’s Ivors Composer Awards announced on Tuesday 15th November.
Ivors Composer Week is one way in which the Academy is championing composers by celebrating their craft, providing opportunities to connect and exploring topics impacting composers. The Week supports The Ivors Academy Trust, which creates new opportunities for composers and songwriters including mentoring, creative support, leadership development and education.
Lloyd Coleman, composer and Chair of The Ivors Academy’s Classical Council said, “As we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of The Ivors Composer Awards it is important that we look ahead to the next twenty years. As composers, we are affected by problems with touring, under-investment in state school music education, and financial pressures facing cultural institutions and venues. But the talent of composers in the UK, innovations in technology and the importance of music and culture to Britain’s place in the world mean that with the right support and funding, there are good reasons to be optimistic. The Ivors Academy will launch a new conversation and campaign, Composers Under Pressure?, during Composers Week to explore the challenges and opportunities facing composers today and how we can ensure a bright future.”
The Week launches on Monday 14th with a reception at the House of Commons to celebrate 20 years of the Awards. Hosted by Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Music Kevin Brennan MP and sponsored by PRS for Music, guests at this invite-only event will hear a special performance by the ORA Singers of Ave Verum Corpus Re-imagined, composed by past winner Roderick Williams.
Tuesday sees the 20th edition of The Ivors Composer Awards presented by BBC Radio 3’s Tom Service and Hannah Peel. BBC Radio 3 will broadcast the ceremony in a special edition of the New Music Show on Saturday 19th November, which will also be available on BBC Sounds. The Ivors Composer Awards are supported by PRS for Music and in association with BBC Radio 3. This year, three categories are presented in association with ABRSM, the Musicians’ Union and the Music Publishers Association.
On Wednesday Meet The Commissioners will see Sarah Gee from Spitalfields Music, Gill Graham from Wise Music Groups and Aaron Holloway-Nahum from Riot Ensemble discussing the changing classical commissioning landscape at St Martin’s in the Fields. Drinks will follow the panel discussion. The event will be available for members to watch again.
Thursday will see a live stream of the David Ferguson lecture exploring Classical Beyond the Concert Hall and the impact of new technologies to create and strengthen human connections with composer Heloise Werner and media, entertainment and technology strategy professional Tiago Correia with more panellists to follow. Live streamed from The Qube – Recording, Podcast & Photography Studios, the event is open to all.
Ivors Composer Week closes with The Ivors Academy Jazz Reception in association with EFG London Jazz Festival at the Barbican on Sunday 20th November. Hosted with Serious, this event is for members only and tickets are limited.
