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British Academy announces Sonic Art showcase for 2008 British Composer Awards as judging commences

Thursday September 11, 2008: This year’s British Composer Awards, to be held at the Law Society on December 2nd will include, for the first time a category devoted to the recognition of Sonic Art, which will focus on live electronics, interactive installations and collaborative multi-media performance.  Giving added weight to this innovation, there will also be 2 Sonic Art performances wrapped into the Awards ceremony.  The artists will present their interactive work as part of collaboration for the Awards between the Academy and Sonic Arts Network.

Eugene Perera and Mick Grierson will exhibit their works as part of the Awards in two installations titled Re-cordings (2008) and Music for Film and Audience (2008).   Re-cordings (2008) uses Max/Jitter software to randomize and juxtapose the video portraits and is a sound focused multi-channel video installation derived from audio cassettes recorded in 1974 when Eugene Perera was nine years old.  Re-cordings (2008) prompts reflection on the highly personal and arbitrary nature of ‘making sense’ of the unknown.  

Music for Film and Audiences is an audiovisual installation work performed by the public. Using a selection of controllers including gamepads, phones and wii remotes, visitors influence, control and process carefully prepared material taken from films associated with Brighton.

Mick Grierson is an experimental artist specialising in real-time interactive audiovisual research, with specific focus on cognition and perception. He works in film, music, and software development, both inside and outside industry, designing, developing and producing new approaches to creating audiovisual experience.

In addition to working in traditional roles in film and television, Mick Grierson has designed commercial audiovisual software for the entertainment industries, which has led to several high profile commissions, including title design and digital audiovisual installations for the hit T.V. show, Derren Brown: Trick of the Mind.
Sarah Rodgers, Chair of the Awards, said, “This live work will be a fantastic complement to the Awards ceremony.  It will be fascinating to see how a room full of composers engages with the installations!” Completing the focus on Sonic Art in the 2008 Awards, the winner in this category will receive a grant of £5,000 from the PRS Foundation towards a project which contributes to the furtherance of the composer’s career.

Judging in all 12 Awards categories takes place this month and the shortlist will be announced in mid October.  Commenting on the nominations, Sarah, said, “There has been a impressive haul of entries for this year’s Awards with the work of more than 250 UK composers being nominated.  The judging period is very intensive and with this calibre of entries, there will be some tough decisions for the juries to make.” 

2008 British Composer Awards - Categories
Instrumental Solo or Duo*

Chamber              

 Vocal

Choral

Wind Band or Brass Band

Orchestral

Stage Works

Liturgical

Sonic Art**

Community or Educational Project

Making Music Award

International Award 

*              The winner of the Instrumental Solo or Duo category will receive £1000 funding from the Worshipful Company of Musicians

**           The winner of the Sonic Art category will receive £5000 funding from the PRS Foundation for New Music