Simon Dobson has won a prestigious British Composer Award at a high profile presentation evening held at Goldsmith’s Hall in London last night.

Colours

His composition ‘A Symphony of Colours’ which was written for the Fairey Band and premièred at the 2010 European Brass Band Championships in Montreux took the honours in the ‘Wind Band or Brass Band’ category.

The British Composer Awards are presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) and sponsored by PRS for Music in association with BBC Radio 3, and the event drew the great and good of the British music world to London, where a ‘totally surprised’ Simon was presented with his award.

Amazing

"It’s amazing," he told 4BR. "I really wasn’t expecting to win given the quality of the works that were nominated, so when my name was announced I was totally surprised."

Simon still managed to give an acceptance speech though – although he can’t really remember what he said!

"I was still in a state of shock, but Gavin Higgins told me that it went OK. To receive an award in the company of world class composers such as Harrison Birtwistle and Thomas Ades is something I am very proud of, and I hope reflects on the growing importance of contemporary works for brass bands too."

Homage

Simon’s award follows that of Lucy Pankhurst in 2011, with ‘A Symphony of Colours’ inspired by the rare condition Synesthesia (literally meaning ‘crossed’ or ‘together senses’), in which people can see colours or smell scent in response to hearing music.

One of the most famous composers afflicted by the condition was Olivier Messiaen, to whom the piece is a homage, whilst Simon himself has been a sufferer from an early age.

Reflection

"It is a very personal composition," Simon revealed. "It does pay homage to Messiaen and many of his works, but it is also a reflection of my feelings and emotions surrounding the condition too."

It has been an important and iconic year for our music on the world stage and this is reflected in the strength of contemporary entries at the awardsGuy Fletcher OBE

Britten

Simon is currently working on his contribution to ‘Diversions after Benjamin Britten’, along with Lucy, Gavin Higgins and Paul McGhee, commissioned by the Brass Band Heritage Trust and funded by a grant from the PRS for Music Foundation to be performed by Tredegar Band at the 2013 Royal Northern Festival of Brass.

"I am really looking forward to hearing the work performed," he added, "although I’ve also got to just finish off new works that will be premiered in Switzerland as well as a composition for Andy Scott’s brilliant Apollo Saxophone ensemble."

An exclusive broadcast of the event, which saw other awards claimed by the likes of Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Thomas Ades can be heard on the station on Sunday 9th December

Great year

Sarah Rodgers, Chairman of BASCA and the British Composer Awards added: "This has been a great year for British composers and BASCA is immensely proud to celebrate their success at the British Composer Awards.

The 10th anniversary Awards have presented an authentic reflection of the new and the established, across a spectrum of language and invention which affirms the high reputation of contemporary classical composition in the UK."

Prolific

Guy Fletcher OBE, PRS Chairman added: "It is an enormous privilege to be supporting the tenth anniversary of the British Composer Awards.

We strongly identify with classical music in this country, having produced so many prolific and much loved composers. It has been an important and iconic year for our music on the world stage and this is reflected in the strength of contemporary entries at the awards.

It is a joy to see so many new and established composers producing outstanding work."

Awards

The full awards list can be viewed at: http://www.britishcomposerawards.com/