Congratulations to the Guildhall alumni, staff and honorands make the shortlist for the British Composer Awards 2018.

Founded in 2003, The British Composer Awards promote the art of composition, recognise the creative talent of composers and sound artists, and bring their music to a wider audience.

Guildhall School staff, alumni and honorands nominated are:

• Thomas Adès (Composition 1989) in the Stage Works category for The Exterminating Angel
• Emily Peasgood (Vocal Studies, 2003) in the Sonic Art category for Halfway to Heaven
• Raymond Yiu (Composition 2014) in the Choral category for Mielo
• Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian (Junior Guildhall 2004) in the Sonic Art category for Two Machines with Hugh Jones as ‘Crewdson & Cevanne’
• Julian Anderson (Composer in Residence and Professor of Composition) in the Orchestral category for The Imaginary Museum
• Laura Bowler (Professor of Composition) in the Solo or Duo category for A Damned Mob of Scribbling Women
• James Weeks (former Associate Head of Composition) in the Chamber Ensemble category for Libro di fiammelle e ombre
• Oliver Knussen (Honorary Fellow) in the Chamber Ensemble category for O Hototogisu!

Alumnus Philip Venables won the 2017 British Composer Award in the Stage Works category for 4.48 Psychosis, his adaptation of Sarah Kane’s play of the same name. Four Guildhall alumni and staff also among the nominees last year – Laurence Crane, Leo Chadburn, Tansy Davies, and Stuart MacRae.

This year’s winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday 4 December. The full shortlist can be found on the British Composer Awards website.