The Ivors Academy, supported by PRS for Music, has revealed the winners of nine Ivor Novello Awards at The Ivors Classical Awards 2025, celebrating 'outstanding new compositions by British, Irish and UK resident composers'.
Three special Gift of the Academy Awards were presented to Anne Dudley, Anoushka Shankar and Debbie Wiseman. Anne Dudley was inducted into the Academy Fellowship, Anoushka Shankar was presented with the Innovation Award, and Debbie Wiseman became the inaugural recipient of the new award for Outstanding Contribution to Screen Composition.
A further eight composers and librettists were recognised in six categories, with Ivor Novello Awards going to composers Anibal Vidal, Anna Clyne, Helen Grime, Jonathan Dove, Luke Mombrea and Nneka Cummins, and librettists April De Angelis and Zoe Gilbert.
Ivors Classical Awards 2025 - Judging
Each year, six Ivors Classical Awards categories are judged anonymously by 30 composer judges from The Ivors Academy.
This year, all identifying information was removed from more than 220 entries, resulting in 29 nominated works in the shortlist.
Roberto Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy, said:
'The Ivors Classical Awards celebrate the art and importance of composition in all its forms, honouring the imagination, skill and dedication that go into creating new music.
'Each Ivor Novello Award is a unique moment of peer recognition for the most important people in music - its composers. Tonight shows why it’s essential that composers are supported, valued and fairly rewarded for their work.'
Where and when can I listen to the Ivors Classical Awards 2025?
The ceremony, presented by BBC Radio 3 broadcasters Kate Molleson and Tom McKinney, took place on Tuesday 11 November, and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Saturday 15 November in a special edition of the New Music Show. The episode will also be available on BBC Sounds.
The 2025 Ivors Classical Awards winners are:
ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
Anne Dudley
INNOVATION AWARD in association with the Musicians’ Union
Anoushka Shankar
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SCREEN COMPOSITION
Debbie Wiseman
BEST CHAMBER ENSEMBLE COMPOSITION
Invocación n.2: A Kintsugi Resurrection composed by Anibal Vidal for trumpet and ensemble
BEST CHORAL COMPOSITION
Orbits composed by Anna Clyne for chorus and solo violin
BEST COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION COMPOSITION in association with ABRSM
Uprising composed by Jonathan Dove – a Community Opera with libretto by April De Angelis
BEST LARGE ENSEMBLE COMPOSITION
Finding gills [when they try to drown you] composed by Nneka Cummins for chamber orchestra and electronics
BEST ORCHESTRAL COMPOSITION in association with Dorico
Folk composed by Helen Grime for soprano and orchestra with libretto by Zoe Gilbert
BEST SMALL CHAMBER COMPOSITION
Black Gold composed by Luke Mombrea for chamber ensemble and electronics
About the Ivors Classical Awards
For over 20 years, the Ivors have recognised the achievements of some the UK’s most talented composers including Sally Beamish, Harrison Birtwistle, Tansy Davies, Jonny Greenwood, Anna Meredith, John Tavener, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Roderick Williams and many more.
