The Ivors Composer Awards Re-launched as The Ivors Classical Awards

The award will celebrate creative excellence in composition for contemporary classical and sound art

Used for twenty years, the Ivors Composer Awards title recognized jazz composing as well as classical and sound art. Along with the transition to the Ivors Classical Awards title, the Academy is seeking to establish The Ivors Jazz Awards in 2024.

Entries for The Ivors Classical Awards are open until July 14. Each winner will receive a coveted Ivor Novello Award, which represents peer recognition with categories judged by award-winning composers from across the Academy’s membership.

In a change from The Ivors Composer Awards, Irish as well as British composers will be eligible for consideration at The Ivors Classical Awards. Eligible composers or sound artists must be British or Irish nationals or ordinarily resident in the UK from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Publishers will also receive greater recognition at The Ivors Classical Awards. From this year a UK music publisher will receive a nomination credit where they own or control the copyright for a nominated piece.

Composers including Sally Beamish, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Tansy Davies, Jonny Greenwood, Anna Meredith, Sir John Tavener, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Errollyn Wallen, and Roderick Williams have been recognized by the Academy.

Last year’s winners included Joanna Marsh’s ORA Singers commission ‘All Shall Be Well,’ Rebecca Saunders’ orchestral work ‘To An Utterance’ and Thomas Adès’ ballet ‘Dante’. Special awards were given to virtuoso tabla player, percussionist and composer Talvin Singh for Innovation, Sir George Benjamin for Outstanding Works Collection Award and Judith Weir, who was awarded the Academy Fellowship – the highest honor bestowed by The Ivors Academy.

“At a time when classical and jazz music is under threat by our cultural institutions, it is more important than ever to showcase the very best of composition," said Graham Davies, CEO of The Ivors Academy. "We have a tradition in the UK for producing and nurturing outstanding composers, as seen at the King’s Coronation and in our concert halls. We are proud to increase the impact of our awards by developing a new space in our yearly programme to celebrate jazz separately to classical and sound art composition.”

“The new name and format this year means the creativity and brilliance of the UK’s finest composers will be celebrated and profiled more than ever," Lloyd Coleman, Chair of The Ivors Academy’s Classical Council, said. "Despite the many challenges, friends and colleagues continue to do what they do best – creating music that is dizzyingly original, vital and diverse. I look forward to raising a toast to their talents in November.”