Every year, prominent members of the classical music industry gather in London for the Gramophone Classical Music Awards.
This year, Classical:NEXT sponsored the inaugural Concept Album Award, which celebrates imaginative A&R, ear-catching programming and, above all, faultless execution. Sean Shibe was not only the first-ever recipient of the award, but his win also marks the first time that music for electric guitar was featured at the Gramophone Awards.
Shibe’s album ‘softLOUD’ on Delphian juxtaposes Scottish Dances and music by James MacMillan, played on a traditional acoustic instrument, with contemporary works on electric guitar by Julia Wolfe, David Lang and Steve Reich, including a performance of the latter's Electric Counterpoint described by its composer as ‘one of the best recordings ever’.
Classical:NEXT general manager Fabienne Krause and press officer Aliena Haig were both in attendance. Click on the link below to learn more about Sean Shibe and to re-watch the Awards Ceremony!
article posted by:Aliena Haig, Piranha Arts