Published: 01 Sep 2023
The winners of the Scottish Awards for New Music 2023 were revealed during an award ceremony at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts on Friday 1 September.
Winners of the Scottish New Music Awards 2023. Image by Alasdair Watson.
This year’s award presentation welcomed over one hundred guests from the new music community and was hosted by former Chief Executive of Sound and Music Susanna Eastburn MBE.
Created by New Music Scotland and supported by Creative Scotland, the Awards were established in 2017 to recognise and champion the highest standards and achievements of composers, musicians, sound artists and ensembles across Scotland.
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland, 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. Creative Scotland is proud to support an event that celebrates some of the most innovative and inspirational art being made here today.”
From over one hundred and eighty nominations, the winners were picked by an international panel of key figures in the music world. Two new categories were introduced to this year’s awards, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Award for New Music Trailblazer which was won by journalist and BBC Radio 3 host Kate Molleson, and The Sonic Art Award which was won by sound artist Alliyah Enyo for her sound piece Selkie Tape Loops.
Winners
Explore the full list of winners.
Winners were presented with a bespoke award designed by Scottish artist and model-maker Michelle Cranwell, who reflected the vibrancy of the music community in her design.
The evening included live performances of new music composed by Scottish composers including John Hearne, Janet Beat, Gemma McGregor and one of the evening’s winners, Aileen Sweeney, performed by soprano Stephanie Lamprea and clarinet Alex South.
The Awards are created by New Music Scotland with support from Creative Scotland. Award sponsors include Dorico Steinberg, PRS for Music, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the Independent Society of Musicians, and the Musicians’ Union.
The Scottish Awards for New Music celebrate Scotland’s vibrant and innovative contemporary music scene, shining a spotlight on the groundbreaking work which has taken place across the length and breadth of the country. The 2023 awards recognise work completed between January 2021 and June 2022. This is the sixth edition of the Scottish Awards for New Music. The inaugural Awards were in 2017.
The eight categories were judged by an international panel of composers, performers, programmers and music industry experts. The 2023 judging panel were Mathilde Bezard, Project Manager Classical and Contemporary Music at the Institut Francais, Dr Seán Clancy, Composer and Senior Lecturer in Music at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Jessica Cottis, Conductor, Maayan Franco, Conductor, Sarah Gee, Chief Executive of Spitalfields Music, David Kettle, Music Writer and Editor, Tamara Kohler, Chief Executive of Contemporary Music for All, Alisson Kruusmaa, Composer, Gunnar Karel Másson, Composer, Graham Mckenzie, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of The HCMF, and Dougie Scarfe, Chief Executive of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
New Music Scotland is a network of composers, performers, programmers, producers, educators, funders and audience. NMS facilitates the creation, production and promotion of experimental, innovative and imaginative new music. We believe that new music comes from many different cultural traditions and musical practices; what brings us all together is our passion for and belief in the intrinsic value of new music creation for individuals and society as a whole.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen, and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot
Sophie Ward
E: awards@newmusicscotland.co.uk
M: 07512458555
