The Judges
We introduce the judges for the 3rd New Music Award. Click on each name for further details and extended biographies.
Chair: Charlotte Higgins
Charlotte has worked on The Guardian since 1997. In 2008 she became chief arts writer. She plays the violin and is an enthusiastic chamber musician. She is also the author of two books on aspects of the classics: Latin Love Lessons and It’s All Greek to Me. Click here to read her blog.
Higgins said, “It has always seemed sad to me that while contemporary visual art, design, literature and theatre are debated and enjoyed by many, new music is often regarded as a difficult, cerebral and arcane minority pursuit. That’s partly the fault of a decline in classroom music education – and perhaps also because the new music world itself hasn’t been quite as effective as selling itself as other, less bashful, artforms.
“I hope the New Music Award can be a real rallying cry for contemporary music and I am excited to be involved. It celebrates and encourages the creation of highly innovative new music and gives musicians a much-needed space for risk-taking, breaking with convention and expanding horizons.”
Recognised as one of the most promising talents in UK music, Bishi is a London-based singer, multi-instrumentalist and DJ...
Artist Creed has often combined art, talking, choreography and music played with his band. The simplicity of the music demonstrates a simple but intellectual approach to creating music/artwork...
One of England’s foremost composers, educators and pianists, Finnissy has been featured composer at the Bath, Huddersfield, and Almeida festivals...
Thought of as one of the world’s most wide-ranging and innovative musicians, pianist and artistic director MacGregor has pursued a life connecting many genres of music defying categorisations...
Music journalist and writer, Morley was a member of the innovative eighties group The Art of Noise. He writes regularly for Observer Music Monthly and is reporting on all kinds of music on the Paul Morley Showing Off website.