Nominations for the awards closed on 6 July and the nominations shortlist was announced on 26 October. The rules and regulations are listed here for information.

Click here to download a PDF version of these.

composer eligibility

• For all Awards except the International Award, nominated composers must have been born in the UK (including Northern Ireland), or have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least five years prior to 31st March 2007.
  
  
• For the International Award only, nominated composers must have been born outside the UK (including Northern Ireland), or have been ordinarily resident outside the UK for at least 5 years prior to 31st March 2007.
  
  
• Composers of any age are eligible to be nominated.
  
  
• Membership of the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters is not a condition of nomination.
  
  
• Please note: a composer whose work is eligible for the International Award will not be eligible in any other category; a composer whose work is eligible in any other category will not be eligible for the International Award.

• To qualify, nominated works must have received their UK première in a public performance, either live or broadcast, between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007. (The qualification period.)
  
  
• In the case of the New Media category, with regard to interactive only, public performance is understood to include public access via a website.
  
  
• Nominated works must have been completed within the five years prior to 31st March 2007.
  
  
• In the case of the Community or Educational Project category, on-going projects are eligible if it can be demonstrated that the project was active during the qualification period.
  
  
• The Liturgical Music category is applicable only to works which have been composed for and performed during an act of worship of any religious faith.
  
  
• Nominated works do not have to have been published.

• Nominations may be submitted from any source, except that composers (including those who are self-published) are not eligible to nominate their own works.
  
  
• In the case of the Making Music Award, nominations must be received from members of Making Music, or from other amateur groups, who have given the first UK performance of the nominated work.
  
  
• Each nomination must be accompanied by
  • at least 2 and preferably 3 copies of the score,
  • the duration of the work must be stated,
  • if a recording exists this must be submitted on CD,
  • a short résumé of the work’s exposure,
  • supporting material relating to the first performance (eg. concert programme),
  • a brief citation as to why the work is being nominated and highlights from the composer’s CV are also desirable,
  • a pre-paid envelope is required for any return of materials.
    
    
• In the case of the Community or Educational Project category, the nomination should be supported by additional material which relates to the successful outcomes of the project and the community with which the project engaged. A DVD of the work in progress or the final performance should also be supplied if available.
  
  
• In the case of the New Media category, additional supporting material is required in the form of VHS or DVD where there is a visual element, and appropriate URLs or technology where there is an interactive element.
  
  
• Nominations for the Stage Works category must include a DVD of the performance. (Please note that VCD and SVCD formats are not acceptable.)
  
  
• The nomination form may be used to nominate more than one work.
  
  
• Each work may be nominated in one category only.
  
  
• The British Academy reserves the right to move a nominated work to a different category.
  
  
• There is no entry fee.

• Materials submitted with the entry form will be returned only if sent with a pre-paid envelope.
  
  
• Scores and recordings submitted without a pre-paid envelope will be donated to the British Music Information Centre on 7th January 2008. All other materials will be disposed of.
  
  
• Scores and recordings may be collected from the offices of the British Music Information Centre (Lincoln House, 75 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7HS) after 7th January 2008 by prior arrangement.

• In all categories except the BBC Radio 3 Listeners Award, a short-list will be drawn up by the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters. The final judging will be made by specially appointed juries, the members of which will be chosen by the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters. An independent moderator will be present at each judging session. In all cases, the final decision rests with the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters and correspondence will not be entered into.
  
  
• The winner of the BBC Radio 3 Listeners Award will be chosen from a list of UK composers proposed by a panel of judges appointed by BBC Radio 3 and put out to public vote by Radio 3 listeners.
  
  
• In each category there will be a final short-list of two or three works, announced in advance of the Awards ceremony.
  
  
• The British Academy reserves the right not to make an Award in any category.

• The presentation of the awards will take place at a reception at Glaziers Hall, London, on Wednesday 5th December 2007.
  
  
• In each category the winning composer will be presented with a British Composer Awards trophy.
  
  
• The winner of the Choral Award will receive £5,000 from the PRS Foundation towards a new commission, or towards a project which contributes to the furtherance of the composer’s career.
  
  
• The winner of the Liturgical Award will receive £1,000 from the Worshipful Company of Musicians towards a new commission.
  
  
• The British Academy of Composers & Songwriters will make a contribution to the travel costs, if coming from outside the UK, for the winner of the International Award. This will be by arrangement and may not cover the full costs.
  
  
• In the event that all or part of the recording is broadcast by BBC Radio 3 in programmes about the British Composer Awards, it will be necessary to obtain permission in advance from the performers. Please tick the check box on the nomination form to indicate that permission has been obtained.
  
  
• Any enquiries in relation to the Awards should be addressed to
  Natalie Bleicher at the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters office:
  Tel: 020 7636 2929
  Fax: 020 7636 2212
  E-mail: natalie@britishacademy.com
  British Academy of Composers & Songwriters, British Music House, 26 Berners Street, London W1T 3LR.