On Wednesday next week the talented brass composer Gavin Higgins’ 'Forest Symphony' is going to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

The recording was made at the RNCM Festival of Brass by the RNCM engineers of the RNCM Brass Band conducted by Chris Houlding.

Brass and Wind category

Gavin's composition was forwarded for nomination by Paul Hindmarsh for a British Composer Award. Paul has championed a number of brass composer's over the years, including 'Eden' by John Pickard which got to the last three in 2006. Like 'Eden', Gavin’s work has been nominated in the wind and brass category.

The other nominations are by Adam Gorb and Joseph Phibbs – both wind orchestra works. A brass band piece has yet to win the award. The awards ceremony takes place on December 2nd and will also be broadcast on Radio 3 the following day.

Gavin is a very talented young composer. He is one of a number of composers who I have taken an interest in over the past few years, and I wish him the very bestPaul Hindmarsh

Talented

Paul told 4BR: "Gavin is a very talented young composer. He is one of a number of composers who I have taken an interest in over the past few years, and I wish him the very best."

Broadcast series

In the run up to the British Composer Awards on Tuesday 2nd December, BBC Radio 3 will be broadcasting a series of programmes, beginning next week.

The programmes, entitled Composing Today, will form the second half of Performance on Radio 3 which runs from 19:00 – 21:15 each evening.

Categories

The categories represented will be:

Monday 24 November: Liturgical and Choral

Tuesday 25 November: Stage Works

Wednesday 26 November: Wind Band or Brass Band

Monday 1 December: Instrumental Solo or Duo and Chamber

Tuesday 2 December: Sonic Art

On Wednesday 3rd December, BBC Radio 3 will broadcast the British Composer Awards ceremony starting at 7.00pm.