It has been announced that works by composers Nigel Clarke, Edward Gregson and a collaborative composition by Simon Dobson, Gavin Higgins, Paul McGhee and Lucy Pankhurst have been shortlisted in the Wind/Brass Band category at the forthcoming British Composer Awards.

Leading composers

Many of the world’s leading composers are featured in the various categories of the prestigious event, such as Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Richard Rodney Bennett and James MacMillan, which will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Hear and Now’ programme on Saturday 7th December.

Prestigious

Nigel Clarke’s virtuosic cornet concerto ‘Mysteries of the Horizon’, Edward Gregson’s masterful ‘Symphony in Two Movements’ and the inventive ‘Diversions after Benjamin Britten: Four Centenary Tributes for Brass Band’ by the quartet of leading young British composers form the shortlist for one of the most prestigious compositional awards in the UK.

Gregson delight

Following the critical success of ‘Of Distant Memories’ used at the recent National Championships, Edward Gregson was particularly thrilled that his other major composition for brass band of the last two years has also received such high profile recognition.

"I’m delighted to hear that my ‘Symphony in Two Movements’ has been nominated for a British Composer's Award," he exclusively told 4BR.

"I was particularly pleased to write the symphony in response to a commission from two of the UK's finest youth bands.

They played it with real conviction and panache; but to then have the thrill of hearing Black Dyke perform it so sensationally well as their own choice work at the European contest in Oslo was an added bonus."

He added: "The BASCA British Composer Awards is a highly prestigious event, representing the very best of achievements by British composers in a wide variety of genres.

I am also pleased that the other two nominations in the wind band/brass band category represent two earlier generations of talented composers, all of whom I know and greatly respect.

It is without doubt a high quality field and like many composers I shall look forward with anticipation to December's award ceremony."

Quality

Nigel’s cornet concerto ‘Mysteries of the Horizon’, was written for the outstanding Belgian soloist Harmen Vanhoorne, and received a British premiere at the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass earlier this year, where the star was accompanied by British Open champion Tredegar.

Thanks

Nigel, who lives in Belgium, was also delighted by the news when speaking exclusively to 4BR, and thanked the soloist and the band for their support and the quality of their performance, which he believed, certainly must have swayed the judging panel into selecting his work.

"Harmen is a phenomenal player and it was a pleasure to write the concerto for his special talents," he said.

"I must also thank RNCM Festival Director Paul Hindmarsh, Ian Porthouse and Tredegar too. It was a real team effort alongside Harmen at the Festival of Brass in Manchester which produced a truly memorable performance."

He added: "I’m delighted to receive the nomination but equally as delighted for both Harmen and Tredegar for performing it so brilliantly.

To be nominated alongside a composer of the stature of Edward Gregson and the youthful brilliance of the quartet of Simon, Lucy, Paul and Gavin is a real honour."

To be nominated alongside a composer of the stature of Edward Gregson and the youthful brilliance of the quartet of Simon, Lucy, Paul and Gavin is a real honourNigel Clarke

Influential

Tredegar also gave the world premiere of ‘Diversions after Benjamin Britten: Four Centenary Tributes for Brass Band’ at the influential RNCM Festival earlier this year.

And speaking to 4BR, Gavin Higgins (pictured above with Lucy, Paul and Simon) was also thrilled that youthful compositional talent has received further recognition following the awards won in the past two years by Simon Dobson and Lucy Pankhurst.

"Our work was a real amalgam of style and inspiration, and Tredegar produced a magnificent world premiere performance of it in Manchester.

I’m sure I speak on behalf of all the composers that we can’t thank Artistic Director Paul Hindmarsh, Tredegar Band and their MD Ian Porthouse enough for the commissioning and subsequent performance of the work."