City News

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce that it has been short listed in two categories of the UK's most prestigious live classical music awards - the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards - with Andris Nelsons as best conductor category and Igorfest in the Festivals & Series category. Colin Matthews Violin Concerto, which was commissioned by the CBSO with Funding from the Feeney Trust and had its debut with the Orchestra is also short listed in the Large-Scale Composition category.

The awards, which show outstanding achievement during 2009 are said to celebrate an astonishingly diverse range of music and music makers from across the UK. They reveal an exciting new generation of artists and ensembles who are firmly establishing themselves alongside distinguished performers; all demonstrate vision and boldness.

Stephen Maddock, chief executive of the CBSO said: "Being short listed in these rigorous and independent awards is great news for the Midlands very own Symphony Orchestra and the region itself. Our Orchestral performances continue to thrill and inspire and, with Andris at the helm, we're ensuring that classical music in the city truly is world class as these nominations show.

"Our support to the music of the future through the commissioning of pieces like that of Colin Matthews Violin Concerto, will continue to ensure that composers and new works have a podium from which their innovative and unique sounds can be heard."

The final awards will be presented by Radio 3 presenters Sean Rafferty and Sara Mohr-Pietch at a ceremony on Tuesday 11 May at The Dorchester Hotel, London and will be broadcast on Radio 3 on Wednesday 12 May.

For further information and images please visit our website www.cbso.co.uk or contact:
Ruth Green, Communications Manager on: 0121 616 6511 or: rgreen@cbso.co.uk