University News Last updated 18 October 2024
Congratulations to alumni Benjamin Tassie and Ryan Latimer, who have made the final cut in the Ivors Classical Awards. The winners will be announced in a ceremony next month.
Thirty-six composers have been nominated for an Ivor Novello Award by the Ivors Academy. These important awards showcase the diversity and vibrancy of contemporary classical music and sound.
Visiting Tutor and doctoral alumnus Benjamin Tassie is a finalist in the Sound Art category, while graduate Ryan Latimer聽made the final cut in the Large Ensemble category.聽
Read more about Benjamin鈥檚 album, 鈥楢 Ladder is Not the Only Kind of Time鈥�, which features three water-powered musical instruments that he designed and built together with another RBC doctoral alumnus and instrument maker Sam Underwood.
Listen to commissioned and performed by Britten Sinfonia. 鈥楶ound of Cure鈥� draws its inspiration from the private drawings of the visionary architect Lina Bo Bardi.聽Her lively collection of sketches weave together complex yet playful narratives and interrelationships.
Artistic excellence
The 36 nominees 鈥渆xemplify artistic excellence鈥� and address a broad range of themes, from exploring our relationship with nature and addressing social issues to celebrating identity and resilience.
There are eight categories in total this year, and a jury of 42 composer judges from the academy considered and reviewed more than 360 works. This resulted in 36 composers and 39 works being selected.
The winners will be revealed at The Ivors Classical Awards on Tuesday 12 November at BFI Southbank in London.
Head of composition Professor Joe Cutler said: 鈥淚t's fantastic to see Benjamin and Ryan's wonderful work being acknowledged with their Ivor Novello Award nominations.
鈥淔rom Benjamin's work for water-powered historical instruments and instrumentalists, built in collaboration with PhD candidate Sam Underwood, responding to the environment, landscape and history of the Rivelin Valley near Sheffield, through to Ryan's work for string orchestra that responds to the private drawings of the visionary architect Lina Bo Bardi, both composers' works demonstrate great innovation, imagination and artistic boldness. Congratulations to you both!鈥�
Benjamin Tassie said: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that 鈥楢 Ladder is Not the Only Kind of Time鈥� 鈥� a project completed as part of my PhD 鈥� has been recognised for such a prestigious award. I could only have made this work with the support of the UKRI Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership and my supervisory team and collaborators at the Conservatoire.鈥�
Ryan Latimer said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a privilege to have been nominated for an Ivor Novello Award. I鈥檓 especially thankful for Britten Sinfonia鈥檚 support over the years and for commissioning 鈥楶ound of Cure鈥�.For聽the piece聽to be recognised in this way, and to be nominated alongside so many amazing composers, is really special. I feel very grateful.鈥�