Dances and Arias wins Brass Band World’s Band CD of the Year Award

Dances and Arias, featuring the music of Edward Gregson, performed by Black Dyke Band and conducted by Nicholas Childs, and is the winner of the Brass Band World (BBW) Band CD of the Year Award, from a shortlist of seven contenders featuring a range of fascinating programme concepts and a notable predominance of concert repertoire.

This, the sixth volume in Doyen’s Gregson disc series, was recorded in the presence of the composer and also includes the BASCA-nominated Four Études for brass band, the Cornet Concerto, and the magnificent and dramatic The Trumpet of the Angels.

Commenting on the Award, Edward …

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Gregson nominated for a British Composer Award

The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors (BASCA) has announced the nominations for the 15th British Composer Awards, the winners of which will be announced on Wednesday 6 December at the British Museum in London.

Edward Gregson’s Four Études for brass band, commissioned by Black Dyke Band for the recording to mark the conclusion of Gregson’s year as Composer-in-Residence, is one of three nominations for an award in the ‘Wind Band or Brass Band’ category.

The British Composer Awards promote the art of composition, recognise the creative talent of composers and sound artists, and bring their music to a …

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Gregson at the Presteigne Festival

Edward Gregson enjoyed great critical acclaim at this year’s Presteigne Festival (where he was Composer-in Residence), held in the beautiful surroundings of the Welsh borders.

During the six-day event seven of his works were performed, including two world premieres: a new String Quartet commissioned by the Festival and written for the Nightingale Quartet, and a new version of his song cycle Five Songs of Innocence and Experience, performed by Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano) and Timothy End (piano).

The Festival is a wonderful celebration of musical performance and new commissions, but also on offer are interesting exhibitions and entertaining talks on music, …

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Gregson at the Presteigne Festival 2017

The Presteigne Festival 2017 programme has been announced. Set on the Powys/Herefordshire border, the Festival has gained a reputation for delivering a broad range of contemporary music, especially British music. This year the Festival features seven works by from Composer-in-Residence, Edward Gregson, including two world premieres.

The first of the seven works by Gregson, Six Little Piano Pieces, will feature in an afternoon piano recital given by Tim Horton at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Presteigne on August 25. Later that evening, the Presteigne Festival Orchestra will perform Gregson’s energetic Goddess for string orchestra.

In the evening of August 26, …

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