british composer awards new category

applications forms for the 2009 British Composer Awards landed today, and I'm delighted to see that they have introduced a new category - Contemporary Jazz Composition. As someone who has commissioned, supported and promoted jazz composers to create new work or develop new collaborations over recent years, albeit in my own small way, it is great news for the more substantial fruits of their work to gain appropriate recognition rather than be a square peg in the round hole of other categories. That said, Gwilym Simcock's 2006 Lichfield Suite stood up strongly on its own when it was shortlisted in the Wind Band or Brass Band category in 2007.

commission shortlisted

had to search for it, but I've just uncovered that one of the 2007 Lichfield Festival commissions has been shortlisted for a 2008 British Composer Award. Terry Mann's Bells of Paradise, a co-commission between Lichfield , Norfolk & Norwich, Budy St Edmunds and Spitalfields Festivals has deservedly reached the final three in the Sonic Art category. For those that missed hearing it, cds are available but it will be difficult to replicate the 5.1 surround sound let alone the cathedral surroundings in which it was installed. This was a surprisingly profound and touching work and I wish it all the best when winners are announced on 2 December, and, almost more importantly, for future performances and installations. Gwilym Simcock's Lichfield Suite, a 2006 Lichfield Festival commission, was shortlisted for last year's awards but didn't win.