The Ivors Classical Awards celebrate the creative pulse of UK composition — honouring works premiered over the past year that push boundaries in form, texture, and imagination.
An impressive roster of UK composers feature in the list of nominees for the 2025 Ivors Classical Awards announced earlier today.
Anibal Vidal, Bernard Hughes, Bushra El-Turk and Cassandra Miller jostle with Helen Grime, James MacMillan, Julian Anderson and Judith Weir for a doorstop. Also in contention amongst the 34 strong line up, Mark Simpson, Ruby Colley, Sally Beamish and Zoe Gilbert.
The awards ceremony are announced on Tuesday 11 November at BFI Southbank where nine awards will be presented to six category winners. In addition, three Gift of the Academy awards will be awarded.
The six categories are judged blind by a jury of 30 composer judges from The Ivors Academy. A total of 220 words have been considered. There are 29 nominated works in the shortlist.
Of particular interest for Thoroughly Good Blog readers and Podcast listeners will be Anibal Vidal whose premiere of another new work this year Theatre of Origins on the opening night of this year’s Spitalfields Festival delighted the eardrums and widened the eyes. Also, Ruby Colley’s Hello Halo developed at Snape and performed at this year’s Aldeburgh Festival.
Taken as a whole, its an exciting line up, one that reflects many of the invigorating new works that have premiered over the past year.
Listen out for podcast interviews with Mark Simpson and Ruby Colley in the next few days.
BEST CHAMBER ENSEMBLE COMPOSITION
arcing, stilling, bending, gathering composed by Lisa Illean
for piano, string ensemble of 12 players and pre-recorded sounds
published in the UK by Faber Music
Chanter composed by Cassandra Miller
for guitar and string orchestra
published in the UK by Faber Music
FILTH composed by Robin Haigh
for large ensemble
Invocación n.2: A Kintsugi Resurrection composed by Anibal Vidal
for trumpet and ensemble
Mantle composed by John Casken
for piano and wind quintet
published in the UK by Schott Music Ltd
BEST CHORAL COMPOSITION
Hear My Heart Sing composed by Bernard Hughes
for SATB choir with divisi with word by Helen Eastman
published in the UK by Wild Woods Music
Hello Halo composed by Ruby Colley
for six voices, violin & fixed media
Nothing At All composed by Julian Anderson
a dramatic madrigal for eight unaccompanied voices with word by Paul Griffiths
published in the UK by Schott Music Ltd
Orbits composed by Anna Clyne
for chorus and solo violin
published in the UK by Boosey & Hawkes
BEST COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION COMPOSITION in association with ABRSM
Gresford Up From Underground / Gresffordd I’r Goleuni ‘Nawr composed by Jon Guy
a Community Opera in one act with libretto by Grahame Davies
Rocks and Stars composed by Lucie Treacher
for Children’s Symphony Orchestra, Massed Choir, Acoustic Guitar Ensemble, Steel Band, Organ, Rock Band and Djembe Percussion group
The Quest composed by Nathan Williamson
soloists and chorus aged 8-18, and professional instrumental ensemble with libretto by Megg Nicol
Uprising composed by Jonathan Dove
a Community Opera with libretto by April De Angelis
published in the UK by Edition Peters, part of Wise Music Group
Vent
composed by Benjamin Oliver
for choir & electronics with libretto by Rachel Warr
BEST LARGE ENSEMBLE COMPOSITION
Finding gills [when they try to drown you] composed by Nneka Cummins
for chamber orchestra and electronics
Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project composed by Will Gregory
for chamber orchestra and moog ensemble
published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing
LUCK composed by Robin Haigh
concerto for trumpet and orchestra
Planet composed by Judith Weir
for chamber orchestra
published in the UK by Chester Music Ltd., part of Wise Music Group
Schiller’s Piano composed by Laurence Osborn
concerto for keyboards and string orchestra
BEST ORCHESTRAL COMPOSITION in association with Dorico
Concerto for Orchestra composed by James MacMillan
for orchestra
published in the UK by Boosey & Hawkes
DISTANS composed by Sally Beamish
concerto for clarinet, violin and orchestra
published in the UK by Edition Peters, part of Wise Music Group
Folk composed by Helen Grime
for soprano and orchestra with libretto by Zoe Gilbert
published in the UK by Chester Music Ltd., part of Wise Music Group
King Torques Hollow Acetate composed by Jasper Dommett
for orchestra
published in the UK by Ricordi Berlin
Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia composed by James MacMillan
for mixed chorus, children’s chorus and orchestra
published in the UK by Boosey & Hawkes
BEST SMALL CHAMBER COMPOSITION
Black Gold composed by Luke Mombrea
for chamber ensemble and electronics
Darkness Moves II composed by Mark Simpson
for horn and electronics
published in the UK by Boosey & Hawkes
If I Could Tell You composed by Richard Causton
for piano trio
Three Tributes composed by Bushra El-Turk
for string quartet
Unrealities composed by Gareth Moorcraft
for solo piano and synthesiser
