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Music in the Round’s Children’s Composer in Residence Paul Rissmann has been nominated in this year’s British Composer Awards.
Paul has been shortlisted in the Community or Education category for The Chimpanzees of Happytown, an adaptation of the popular book of the same name by children’s author Giles Andreae. Paul’s music for Ensemble 360 and narrator Polly Ives, brings the themes, characters and narrative of the story to life, presenting this to the audience with projected images from the book and lots of audience participation. The concert has been warmly received by audiences across the UK having toured to 11 different venues including the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and finishing with a sell-out performance at London’s Wigmore Hall.

A host of musical instruments - violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano – are introduced to children in The Chimpanzees of Happytown with opportunities to sing along to parts of the concert. Schools and families were able to learn the songs and actions through workshops and a free participation pack available in advance. Creative activity and interaction with the musicians before the start of the concert encouraged an overwhelming atmosphere of fun and enjoyment.

Of the piece Paul Rissmann said: ‘Very young children adore music. It fills their entire body and in my opinion they are the most musical members of society. At this age, we have very few inhibitions so we are more open to embracing and connecting with sound. However, young children need to be constantly entertained so for me the key is strike the perfect balance between performance and participation.’

Paul continues his relationship with Music in the Round and in November Paul’s latest composition for children, Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants, will begin a UK tour.

The British Composer Awards, created by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), aim to promote the art of composition, to recognise the creative talent of composers who live and work in the UK and to bring contemporary music to a wider audience. Sponsored by PRS for Music and presented in association with BBC Radio 3 the British Composer Awards are highly regarded and sit alongside BASCA’s acclaimed Ivor Novello Awards and Gold Badge Awards.

The 2012 British Composer Awards Shortlist was announced on Thursday 25 October on BBC Radio 3's In Tune. The 10th British Composer Awards will take place on Monday 3rd December at Goldsmiths’ Hall, London.

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