Singer/songwriter Christine Tobin has won the Contemporary Jazz Composition prize in the 2012 British Composers Awards held by The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA). The award is for her critically acclaimed album Sailing to Byzantium, inspired by the work of legendary Irish poet W.B Yeats. The album and a Tobin interview were featured in the July 2012 issue of Jazzwise and has been voted fourth in the Jazzwise top 10 albums of the year critics poll.

This year BASCA celebrated the 10th anniversary of the awards with 13 separate prizes being presented to British Composers of contemporary classical and jazz music. The awards are presented by BASCA and sponsored by PRS for Music in association with BBC Radio 3. Roger Wright controller of BBC Radio 3 said; “we are delighted to be able to shine a light on this important area of our cultural life, not only broadcasting coverage of this event but also working with composers throughout the year to bring new works to wider audiences.” The awards were presented at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Monday 3 December and BBC Radio 3 is broadcasting coverage of the Awards on Sunday 9 December.

Tobin has previously been awarded the BBC Jazz Award for Best Vocalist in 2008 and has been described as “a jewel of the jazz scene”. Upcoming performances of Tobin’s include a concert on Sunday 9 December at Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Next year she is taking part in the Gateshead International Jazz Festival, which takes place from 5-7 April performing songs from her album in a strand that explores the relationship between words and music notably the work of Philip Larkin and Yeats.

For more info on the awards go to www.britishcomposerawards.com.

For more info on Christine Tobin and her music go to www.christine-tobin.com.

– Esther Hayden