Who Won The Ivors Classical Awards Featuring Anne Dudley, Anoushka Shankar, And Debbie Wiseman

Ever listen to the music in a film and get goosebumps? Or hear a piece of classical music that just completely changes your mood? The talented people behind that magic, the composers, just had their big night. On 11 November, The Ivors Academy put on its annual Ivors Classical Awards, a huge celebration of the brilliant minds creating today's new music.

It’s a bit like the Oscars, but specifically for the composers and librettists (the people who write the words for operas and big vocal pieces) from the UK and Ireland. And this year, some seriously impressive names walked away with the top prizes, including legends like Anne Dudley, Anoushka Shankar, and Debbie Wiseman.

The Biggest Honours Of The Night

Some awards are just a bit extra special. At the Ivors, these are called the Gift of the Academy Awards, and they are given to people who have truly changed the game. This year, three incredible women in music were in the spotlight.

First up, Anne Dudley was given the highest honour possible, the Academy Fellowship. This is a massive deal. It means she's now the 33rd Fellow of The Ivors Academy, putting her in the same club as music royalty like Kate Bush, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and even Bruce Springsteen. It's the Academy’s way of saying someone’s work has had a huge and lasting impact. So, who is Anne Dudley? If you’ve ever heard of the 80s group Art of Noise, she was a founding member, experimenting with electronic music and sampling in ways that people are still copying today. She also wrote the music for films like The Full Monty (which won her an Oscar) and TV shows like Poldark. Basically, she’s a genius in pop, film, and classical music.

Next, the amazing Anoushka Shankar received the Innovation Award. This award is for artists who are always pushing boundaries and trying new things. Anoushka Shankar, a world-famous sitar player and composer, does exactly that. She blends traditional Indian classical music with everything from electronic music to flamenco, creating sounds that are completely fresh and exciting. This award celebrates her adventurous spirit in composition.

And finally, a brand new award was introduced: the Outstanding Contribution to Screen Composition. The very first person to receive it was Debbie Wiseman. You might not know her name, but you definitely know her music. She has written the scores for countless films and TV shows. This award recognises her incredible body of work and the massive impact her composition has had on what we watch. Think about how a tense scene in a movie gets your heart racing – that’s often down to the power of the music, and Debbie Wiseman is a master of it. The new award was sponsored by the Musicians' Union.

Celebrating Fresh Talent And Seasoned Pros

It wasn't just about the lifetime achievement-style awards. The Ivors Classical Awards also celebrated the best new pieces of music from the last year. What’s really cool is how they are judged. A panel of 30 composer judges from The Ivors Academy listened to over 220 pieces of music without knowing who wrote them. This means the winners are chosen purely based on the quality of the music itself, which is a pretty fair way to do it.

This year, a whole bunch of composers and librettists got to take home their very first Ivor Novello Award. It's a huge moment in any composer's career.

• Anibal Vidal
• Anna Clyne
• Luke Mombrea
• Nneka Cummins
• April De Angelis (librettist)
• Zoe Gilbert (librettist)

Meanwhile, some familiar faces were back to pick up more awards. York's own Helen Grime won her second Ivor Novello Award, and Jonathan Dove collected his fourth. This just shows the amazing level of consistency and creativity among today’s contemporary composers.

Why These Awards Matter

So, why is it so important to celebrate composers? Roberto Neri, the CEO of The Ivors Academy, put it perfectly. He said,

“The Ivors Classical Awards celebrate the art and importance of composition in all its forms, honouring the imagination, skill and dedication that go into creating new music. Each Ivor Novello Award is a unique moment of peer recognition for the most important people in music - its composers. Tonight shows why it’s essential that composers are supported, valued and fairly rewarded for their work."

It’s a reminder that behind every great piece of music is a person (or team of people) who spent hours, days, and months crafting it. Organisations like PRS for Music, who support the awards, work to make sure these creative people get paid fairly for their work.

Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO of PRS for Music, added: “Congratulations to this year’s Ivor Novello Classical Award winners, your achievements speak to the range and vitality of composition across the UK... Tonight’s winners are pushing the art form forward with boldness and brilliance, bringing new audiences to contemporary music.”

Catch The Ceremony On The Radio

If you fancy hearing some of this amazing music and finding out more about the winners, you’re in luck. The whole ceremony was hosted by Tom McKinney and Kate Molleson from BBC Radio 3. They will be broadcasting the highlights on the New Music Show on 15 November. You can listen on the radio or catch up later on BBC Sounds. This partnership with BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Proms is vital for getting new classical music out to a wider audience.

Sam Jackson, who is in charge of BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Proms, said:

“Congratulations to all of tonight’s winners, whose creativity is shaping music in exciting new ways. Championing contemporary composers is at the heart of what we do and we are proud that the BBC remains the biggest commissioner of new music in the country.”

The awards had brilliant support from various partners. The ABRSM, which many music students will know from their exams, sponsored the Best Community and Participation Composition award, highlighting music that brings people together. It’s clear that from grassroots community projects to epic film scores and groundbreaking electronic music, the world of modern composition is thriving. It's not just about old-style orchestral pieces; it includes everything from chamber music to experimental sounds, showing just how diverse the music scene truly is.