British Composer Awards 2018 Winner

Performers at the British Composer Awards

Drake Music Scotland’s collaboration with The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, Microscopic Dances, has won a British Composer Award for Oliver Searle.

Collecting the award at last night’s glittering ceremony in London’s British Museum, Oliver highlighted the pioneering element of the work – bringing young musicians playing different instruments and music technologies together in perform a challenging new composition.

“There is nothing microscopic about the ambition and impact of this courageous work.”

The prestigious British Composer Awards founded by BASCA recognise the best creative talent of composers and sound artists working in contemporary music, jazz and sonic art today.  In their remarks about Microscopic Dances,  the judges said “There is nothing microscopic about the ambition and impact of this courageous work”.

Oliver’s commission received funding from an Athenaeum Award from the Exchange at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  We are also very grateful to Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Corra Foundation, The Rayne Foundation, The Robertson Trust and Trefoil for support of our Digital Orchestra.

Watch the premiere of Microscopic Dances’ first movement…