The COVID-19 Composer Awards have been created by Sound and Music to support UK-based composers and music creators who have lost work due to the COVID-19 crisis to undertake creative or professional development.
In April 2020, Sound and Music temporarily repurposed its existing Francis Chagrin Award in order to respond to the needs of the composer community during the unprecedented pandemic emergency to create the COVID-19 Composer Awards. These small-scale grants of £500 were awarded to composers and music creators looking to purchase essential equipment or develop skills during these times of quarantines and tiered restrictions, with a view to supporting composers and music creators longer-term ability to sustain themselves.
In November 2020 the COVID-19 Composer Awards reopened for a second round of applicants – with 18 new awards given to composers across the UK. The winners of these awards have been announced today. They are:
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Oliver Cross
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Lottie Sadd
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Alicia Jane Turner
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Francesca Simmons
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Jeph Vanger
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Caterina McEvoy
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Flora Yin-Wong
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Jaka Skapin
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Fintan O’Hare
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Bill Vine
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Nicole Raymond
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Narotam Horn
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HforSpirit
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Shaun Davies
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Craig Scott
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Steph Walker
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Thomas Stone
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David Roche
Read more about the winners of both rounds of the COVID-19 Composer Awards here
“During the stressful context of the pandemic these Awards support composers to refocus their ambitions, further their learning and carve out time to compose with financial security. Every Award has a unique impact on the composer’s creative and professional journey that we hope will see them more confident and resilient as a result. I want to personally thank our donors for enabling us to support 31 composers across two rounds so far.”
Will Dutta – Co-Head of Artist Development
Thank you so much to our generous donors for making the COVID-19 Composer Awards possible, including: Richard Steele, Expert Sleepers, String and Tins, James Poke, Judith Mitchell, Erika Fox, Solen Fluzin, Hilary Friend, Bjorn Heile, Debbi Parks, and Litha Efthymiou.
Featured Image: Thomas Stone at the Whitechapel Gallery by Henri Kisielewski (2018)