2011 Rules & Regulations
composer eligibility
For all Awards except the International Award, nominated composers must have been born in the United Kingdom, or have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least five years prior to 31 March 2011.
For the International Award only, nominated composers must have been born outside the UK, and must not be eligible for nomination in the other categories through having been ordinarily resident in the UK for five years.
Please note: a composer whose work is eligible for the International Award will not be eligible in any other category; a composer whose work is eligible in any other category will not be eligible for the International Award.
Composers of any age are eligible to be nominated. Membership of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composer and Authors, (BASCA) is not a condition of nomination.
work eligibility
To qualify, nominated works must have received their UK première in a public performance, either live or broadcast, between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011. (The qualification period).
In the case of the Sonic Art category, with regard to interactive works only, public performance is understood to include public access via a website.
Nominated works must have been completed within the five years prior to 31 March 2011.
The Liturgical Music category is applicable only to works which have been composed for and performed during an act of worship of
any religious faith.
Works nominated in the Contemporary Jazz Composition category must contain improvisation as an essential element.
Nominated works do not have to have been published.
nominating works
Nominations may be submitted from any source, except that composers (including those who are self-published) are not eligible to nominate their own works.
In the case of the Making Music Award, nominations must be received from members of Making Music, or from other amateur groups, who have given the first UK performance of the nominated work. There is an additional questionnaire to complete for this category.
Each nomination must be accompanied by three copies of the score. The duration of the work and reason for nomination must be stated, and a recording must be submitted if one exists. A short résumé of the work’s exposure, supporting material relating to the first performance (eg. concert programme) and highlights from the composer’s CV are also desirable. A pre-paid envelope is required for any return of materials.
In the event that all or part of the recording is broadcast by BBC Radio 3 in programmes about the British Composer Awards, it will be necessary to obtain permission in advance from the owner of the sound recording and from the performers. Please tick the check box on the nomination form to indicate that permission has been obtained.
Nominations for the Stage Works category must include a DVD of the performance.
In the case of the Sonic Art category, additional supporting material is required on DVD where there is a visual element, and appropriate URLs or technology where there is an interactive element.
Audio recordings must be provided on audio CD. Video recordings must be provided on DVD. (Please note that VHS, VCD and SVCD formats are not acceptable).
There is no limit to the number of works which may be submitted. However, nominators may each submit no more than one work per composer in each category.
A separate nomination form must be printed and completed for each work submitted. Additional forms may be photocopied or downloaded from www.basca.org.uk
Each work may be judged in one category only. BASCA reserves the right to move a nominated work to a different category.
There is no entry fee.
nominating works in the community or educational project category
The Community or Educational Project category is for compositions which show evidence of the composer’s craft in ongoing interaction with a group of participants with whom the composer is working.
Additional materials must be provided to describe the nature of the project and to demonstrate the creative input of the composer and the participants. Examples of these additional
materials include:
project timetable
examples of input from participants which has been woven into the finished work
testimonials from participants, either written or recorded
a DVD of the work in progress
a DVD of the final performance
a recorded presentation about the work
press reviews of the project
rules and regulations
return of nomination materials
Materials submitted with a pre-paid envelope will be returned in January 2012. Alternatively, materials may be collected from BASCA by prior arrangement between 3 January and 27 January 2012.
Scores and recordings not returned or collected will be donated to music libraries. All other materials will be disposed of by BASCA.
Please note if you do not include a pre-paid envelope or specify that you are collecting the submission the scores will automatically be donated.
judging
In all categories a shortlist will be drawn up by BASCA. The final judging will be made by specially appointed juries, the members of which will be chosen by BASCA. In all cases, the final decision rests with BASCA and correspondence will not be entered into with respect to such decisions.
In each category there will be a final shortlist of two or three works, announced in advance of the Awards ceremony.
BASCA reserves the right not to make an Award in any category.
The final decision regarding all aspects of the British Composer Awards, including the interpretation of these rules, resides with the Board of BASCA.
awards
The presentation of the Awards will take place at a reception at Stationers’ Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London, on Wednesday 30 November 2011.
In each category the winning composer will be presented with a British Composer Awards certificate.
For further information or enquiries relating to the Awards, please contact Natalie Bleicher or Kate MacCormick on 020 7636 2929 or email bca@basca.org.uk
British Composer Awards, BASCA, British Music House, 26 Berners Street, London W1T 3LR