Joe Coomber at the 1980 Gold Badge Awards
Milestones
In 1944 the Composers Guild of Great Britain (CGGB) was established to represent classical composers, including composers for film, giving a voice to a vital part of the music industry.
In the 1947 the British Songwriters Protection Guild was founded. This organisation later became the Songwriters Guild of Great Britain and eventually the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), reflecting its expanding remit.
In 1976 the Association of Professional Composers (APC) was formed to represent media composers exclusively, marking another milestone in supporting the needs of composers.
During the 1990s collaboration between the three guilds deepened through the Alliance of Composer Organisations (ACO), setting the stage for a united front.
In 1999 the guilds merged to form the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, streamlining their efforts and focus.
The organisation was renamed the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) in 2009 to better represent its membership.
In response to an evolving music industry, in 2019 BASCA rebranded to The Ivors Academy. This change unified our activities, including our prestigious awards, under a single banner to better serve songwriters and composers at every stage of their careers and across every genre.
Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello (1893 – 1951) was a leading innovative composer, playwright, actor and film star of his time.
As one of the most successful songwriters of his generation, he composed over 230 published songs, including many for his eight successful West End musicals: Glamorous Night (1935), Careless Rapture (1936), Crest of the Wave (1937), The Dancing Years (1939), Arc de Triomphe (1943), Perchance to Dream (1945), King’s Rhapsody (1949) and Gay’s The Word (1951).
Born on 15 January 1893 in Cardiff as David Ivor Davies, he changed his name to Ivor Novello in 1927. He became famous for composing the hit marching song Keep the Home Fires Burning (‘Til the Boys Come Home) during the First World War at the age of 21. He later wrote another song of hope during the Second World War, We’ll Gather Lilacs, which became his signature tune. These songs became enduring symbols of hope and resilience, making them some of the most popular and iconic pieces in Britain during both World Wars.
As one of our founding members, his extraordinary songwriting achievements and enduring legacy were commemorated with the creation of our prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in 1956, which have since become the world’s most respected celebration of excellence in songwriting and composition.
The Ivors
In 1956 we launched the Ivor Novello Awards, to recognise the highest achievements in songwriting and composing.
The Ivors Classical Awards
We founded the British Composer Awards in 2003, to celebrate classical composers and sound artists, and bring their music to a wider audience. Over 15 years, the British Composer Awards earned a reputation for doing just that. They were rebranded in 2019 to The Ivors Composer Awards and from 2023 are known as The Ivors Classical Awards.
Since 2003 they have recognised the achievements of some the UK’s most talented composers including Sally Beamish, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Tansy Davies, Jonny Greenwood, Anna Meredith, Sir John Tavener, John Rutter, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Errollyn Wallen, Roderick Williams and many more.
More about The Ivors Classical Awards
