Ivors Classical Awards 2024: Errollyn Wallen, Roxanna Panufnik, and Gavin Bryars Lead the Winners
The 2024 Ivors Classical Awards celebrated 11 distinguished composers, including Errollyn Wallen, Roxanna Panufnik, and Gavin Bryars, with prestigious honours and first-time wins.
The 2024 Ivors Classical Awards, a prestigious celebration of contemporary classical music and sound art, recognised 11 outstanding composers for their innovative contributions. Held at the British Film Institute in London and broadcast by BBC Radio 3, the evening saw the highest honours awarded to Errollyn Wallen, Roxanna Panufnik, and Gavin Bryars, while several composers, including Gavin Bryars and Bushra El-Turk, received their first-ever Ivor Novello Awards.
Errollyn Wallen Receives the Academy Fellowship
The highest honour of the evening, the Academy Fellowship, was awarded to Errollyn Wallen, a composer whose work has been central to major national events such as the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the BBC Proms. Wallen, now the 28th Fellow of The Ivors Academy, joins an esteemed list of past recipients, including John Adams, Elton John, and Paul McCartney. Known for her diverse and inclusive compositions, Wallen’s influence on the UK’s musical landscape is profound. She was also named Master of the King’s Music in 2023, further cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in contemporary classical music.
Roxanna Panufnik: Honoured with Outstanding Works Collection
Roxanna Panufnik, one of the most versatile and respected composers in the UK, received the Outstanding Works Collection award for her remarkable body of work. Panufnik, whose breakthrough piece Westminster Mass established her reputation for expressive choral writing, has since created a vast catalogue that bridges different cultures and faiths through music. Her work spans choral compositions, operas, and instrumental works such as Four World Seasons and Abraham, which explore the intersections of global musical traditions. The Academy praised her commitment to fostering cultural connections and her artistic vision that continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
Gavin Bryars Wins the Innovation Award
Gavin Bryars, a pioneer in free improvisation and experimental music, was awarded the Innovation Award for his visionary approach to composition. Known for his groundbreaking works The Sinking of the Titanic and Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet, Bryars has had a lasting influence on contemporary music. His music, which often explores themes of time and memory, continues to resonate across various artistic mediums, including film, ballet, and art galleries. The Academy acknowledged Bryars for his unique ability to integrate elements of other music genres into his compositions, creating works that are both original and accessible.
First-Time Winners at the Ivors Classical Awards
Several composers won their first Ivor Novello Awards, including Gavin Bryars, Bushra El-Turk, Cassandra Miller, Laurence Osborn, and Roxanna Panufnik. These first-time honours highlight the growing diversity in contemporary classical music and sound art.
Gavin Higgins – Best Orchestral Composition
Gavin Higgins received the Best Orchestral Composition award for his Horn Concerto, a work commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The piece was described as “striking and memorable,” with the judges praising its creative sophistication and originality.
Brian Irvine – Best Community and Participation Composition
Brian Irvine’s A Children’s Guide to Anarchy won Best Community and Participation Composition, recognising his innovative approach to engaging young people in music. This piece, created in collaboration with children from Oakwood Primary School in Glasgow, explores personal autonomy and human connectivity through contemporary music and animated video posters.
Matthew Herbert – Best Large Ensemble Composition
Matthew Herbert’s The Horse, a piece for orchestra, horse skeleton, and electronics, was awarded Best Large Ensemble Composition. The judges commended Herbert for his bold and inventive approach to composition, noting the work’s unique vision and ability to engage a wide and diverse audience.
Bushra El-Turk – Best Stage Work Composition
Bushra El-Turk’s opera Woman at Point Zero won Best Stage Work Composition, celebrating her ability to blend various musical styles and tell powerful stories. The opera was performed by the Royal Opera House’s ensemble and was praised for its sophisticated combination of storytelling and music.
Full List of 2024 Ivors Classical Awards Winners
- Academy Fellowship – Errollyn Wallen
- Outstanding Works Collection – Roxanna Panufnik
- Innovation Award – Gavin Bryars
- Best Chamber Ensemble Composition – TOMB! by Laurence Osborn
- Best Choral Composition – The City, Full of People by Cassandra Miller
- Best Community and Participation Composition – A Children’s Guide to Anarchy by Brian Irvine
- Best Large Ensemble Composition – The Horse by Matthew Herbert
- Best Orchestral Composition – Horn Concerto by Gavin Higgins
- Best Small Chamber Composition – The Mouth by Rebecca Saunders
- Best Sound Art – Each Tiny Drop by Dan Jones
- Best Stage Work Composition – Woman at Point Zero by Bushra El-Turk
Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
