Winners of Scottish Awards for New Music revealed
Florence Lockheart
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Winners of each of the awards' eight categories were announced during a ceremony held at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts
Winners of the Scottish Awards for New Music 2023 have been revealed during an award ceremony at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts. Hosted by former chief executive of Sound and Music Susanna Eastburn MBE on 1 September, the sixth edition of the awards celebrated the work of composers, musicians, sound artists and ensembles working in new music across Scotland.
Winners were selected from a shortlist pulled from the 180 nominations received this year. A panel of industry experts including Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Dougie Scarfe; Institut Francais’ Mathilde Bezard; Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Dr Seán Clancy; Spitalfields Music’s Sarah Gee; Contemporary Music for All’s Tamara Kohler and HCMF’s Graham Mckenzie chose winners in eight categories including two new awards for New Music Trailblazer and Sonic Art.
Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland, which supports New Music Scotland in running the awards, said: ‘The Scottish Awards for New Music have once again opened a door to a diverse and stimulating world. Every one of these musicians and composers, programmers and ensembles encourages us to open our ears to a deeper way of listening and open our minds to a broader definition of what music can be.’
©Alasdair Watson
The winners for each category, who each received a bespoke award (pictured above) designed by Scottish artist and model-maker Michelle Cranwell, are listed below:
The Dorico Award for Small-scale Work
- David Fennessy, Jack for two unplugged electric guitars
The PRS for Music Award for Large-scale Work
- Aileen Sweeney, Winter
The Musicians' Union Award for New Music Performer(s)
- Sonic Bothy
The ISM Award for New Music Recording
- Martin Suckling, The Tuning
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Award for New Music Trailblazer
- Kate Molleson
The Award for New Music Project
- Echoes, Drake Music Scotland/Hebrides Ensemble
The Award for Sonic Art
- Alliyah Enyo, Selkie Tape Loops
The Award for New Music Programme
- WATER MUSIC source to sea
A work by Aileen Sweeney, winner of the PRS for Music Award for Large-scale Work, was performed at the awards ceremony by soprano Stephanie Lamprea and clarinet Alex South alongside live performances of new works by other Scottish composers including John Hearne, Janet Beat, Gemma McGregor.
