Australian composer Brett Dean wins second Ivor Novello Award

Congratulations to Australian composer Brett Dean, whose Cello Concerto has won the 2023 Ivor Novello Award for Best Orchestral Composition.

Dean collected an Ivors statuette at the London awards ceremony this week and was among the eleven composers honoured.

Written for symphony orchestra and solo cello, Dean’s work had its world premiere with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2018 with cellist Alban Gerhardt. This is Dean’s second Ivor Novello Award, having won one last year for his chamber ensemble piece Madame ma bonne sœur.

The jury commented that “it demonstrates an incredibly focused and precise use of instrumental timbre […] it boasts a broad range of expressions, from rhythmically driven sections to delicate, refined soundscapes”.