Innovation tops BBW's 2015 CD Awards
The six nominations for 2015 Band CD of the Year gave our panel of judges plenty to think about in considering a strikingly diverse collection of discs spanning a huge range of repertoire in 2014 and 2015.
Nominations included discs featuring Black Dyke, Bürgermusik Luzern, Cory, and the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army. However, the votes polled by our 'Band CD' adjudicating team of Christopher Thomas, Dr Luc Vertommen, Alan Morrison and Paul McGhee saw Tredegar Town take top honours with their 'Dark Arteries - The Music of Gavin Higgins' release.
Musical Director, Ian Porthouse told BBW: “I was over the moon when I found out! After hearing the final edit I knew it was something special and a great effort by all involved - the band, World of Sound, Paul Hindmarsh and the amazingly talented Gavin Higgins! To win is a real honour,especially when the other nominations are of such quality.”
Meanwhile, nominees for BBW Solo CD of the Year included Tom Hutchinson, Kirsty Abbotts, Glenn Van Looy, Glyn Williams and Brett Baker. However, it was euphonium soloist David Thornton who made the most consistent impression on the adjudicating panel of Steven Mead, Owen Farr, David Morten and Christopher Thomas, to earn his Parallel Realities release the BBW Solo CD of the Year 2015 Award.
David Thornton told BBW: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the disc has been given recognition, especially given the incredible nature of the artists on the other nominated discs. It’s always somewhat of a risk to record or perform a project that strays from convention and I still feel I’m only scratching the surface of what’s possible within the electro-acoustic world. However, I’m delighted with the resulting combination of repertoire and hope that people enjoy listening to it!”
Congratulations to both Tredegar Town Band and David Thornton. To read about all the discs nominated for this year's Awards, subscribe to the BBW magazine.
