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Championing the unusual, the unorthodox and the unheard, Battle of the Bands is our annual emerging talent platform for early career performers and performer-composers.
Held every year, we invite between 5 and 8 acts a year – who chime with our ethos and are at the outset of their career – to perform in an informal setting in front of a panel of industry experts and an encouraging audience. Past acts have showcased a range of different new music styles, and have been adjudicated by international performers, programmers, producers and composers.
Supporting early career artists
Supporting emerging artists and their creative output is a key part of our core values. Battle of the Bands supports artists at the start of their career by giving them a platform to perform, exposing their work to new audiences and enabling vital feedback from key figures in the industry.
Previous winners and finalists have gone on to become vital forces on the wider music scene:
The Hermes Experiment (2014 winner) have won numerous awards and were shortlisted in the 2019 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards.
Consortium5 (2009 winner) recorded and released an album on the Nonclassical label.
Reylon Yount (2019 winner) regularly plays with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and has become a unique voice on the new music scene as part of his Chinese new music collective, Tangram.
Nobuto (2020 finalist) has since been commissioned by leading ensembles such as Manchester Collective, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Ligeti Quartet, Invoke Quartet and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
Previous adjudicators have included:
International composer, producer and Nonclassical founder Gabriel Prokofiev.
Conductor Jessica Cottis.
BBC Radio 3 Controller Alan Davey.
Head of Music at Southbank Centre, Gillian Moore CBE.
Head of Classical Music at Southbank Centre, Toks Dada.
Pianist and founder of The African Concert Series Rebeca Omordia.
Electronic musician Mira Calix.
Cellist Abel Selaocoe.
Composer Dominic Murcott.
Interdisciplinary artist Nwando Ebizie.
Nonclassical’s Executive Director, Natalia Franklin Pierce.
Releases from Past Winners
What are you looking for?
When shortlisting, we’ll be looking at the quality of both the performance and repertoire you’ve chosen. However, although programming is important to us, we’re open when it comes to style as long as it fits in with our mission of showcasing the best new classical, electronic and experimental music.
Do you have to be UK-based?
Yes, all applicants must be UK-based.
What should I prepare?
Sets should be no more than 15 minutes. It’s up to you how you choose to fill that time, although you should have an idea of what you’re going to do when you apply – we’ll ask you for a repertoire list, which will be taken into consideration when shortlisting.
I’m a pianist, is there a piano available at the venue?
Although it’s a pub venue without a house piano, we wouldn’t want to deter pianists from applying. We can provide an electric keyboard or you’re welcome to bring your own.
I’m an electronic musician, what tech is available at the venue?
There’ll be a sound technician on the night and the venue itself is set up with microphones, monitors and speakers. Time is often tight on the day so a complicated setup will be tricky, but you can always double check with our Events Officer if you’re unsure. We’ll also ask you to list your technical requirements when you apply.
Past competitions
2023
Adjudicators: Alan Davey CBE, Toks Dada, Nwando Ebizie, Natalia Franklin Pierce, Gabriel Prokofiev.
Finalists:
- Kemal Yusuf
- Vulva Voce
- KOGG
- Recycled Materials Trio
- Anders Waller, Alex Lyon + Hannah Thomas
- Julia Set
Winner: Vulva Voce
Special commendation: KOGG
2022
Adjudicators: Alan Davey CBE, Mira Calix, Natalia Franklin Pierce, Rebeca Omordia, Gabriel Prokofiev
Finalists:
- red panel
- Balladeste
- FRIENDLY BOOTS
- Joanne Chiang
- East London Sound Ensemble
- Rothko Collective
Winner: Rothko Collective
Special commendation: red panel
2020
Adjudicators: Natalia Franklin Pierce, Gillian Moore CBE, Gabriel Prokofiev, Abel Selaocoe
Finalists:
- Yorgo Stenos
- Lara Jones
- James McIlwrath
- Rosie Middleton
- Nobuto
- Ret Frem
Winner: James McIlwrath
Special commendation: Rosie Middleton
2019
Adjudicators: Eleanor Ward, Dominic Murcott, Jessica Cottis
Finalists:
- Joe Bates
- James Hurst
- Reylon Yount
- Scordatura: Women's Music Collective
- 4|12 Collective
- Rita Says and the Jerico Orchestra
Winner: Reylon Yount
Special commendation: James Hurst and Scordatura: Women's Music Collective
2018
Adjudicators: Eleanor Ward, Gabriel Prokofiev, Dominic Murcott, Alan Davey
Finalists:
- The Improvisers Choir
- Andy Ingamells
- Tapp duo
- Simon McCorry
- David Zucchi
- RELEASE THE IMP
Winner: The Improvisers Choir
2017
Finalists:
- Kesia Decote
- Ajar Ensemble
- Heidi Heidelberg
- What Guitar Trio
- Echoshed
- Our Eyes Collective
- La Tache Ensemble
Winner: Heidi Heidelberg
2016
Finalists:
- Armed with Bow
- Block4
- Brian Mark's Ensemble
- Duo Ex Machina
- Ensemble x.y
- MoMa
- Peter Hai
- Syzygy
Winner: Ensemble x.y
Special commendation: Block4
2015
Finalists:
- Kirsten Morrison
- Ruby Colley
- Jecklin
- Brian Mark
- An Ending Ascend
- Duo Ex-Machina
- Made of She
- Georgina Brett
- Fluid Motion
Winner: Jecklin
Special commendation: Made of She
2014
Finalists:
- Dan Shao
- The Hermes Experiment
- Jon Russell
- Iyatra Quartet
- Broca Ensemble
- Maria Christina and the 7 Pedals
- Junk DNA
- Georgina Brett
- Fluid Motion
Winners: Dan Shao, The Hermes Experiment
Special commendation: Iyatra Quartet
2012
Finalists:
- Kate Symonds-Joy
- Sideris Wind Quintet
- Marylebone Wind Quintet
- CN Lester
- Pretty Tensions
- London Soundpainting Quintet
- Stephen Crowe
- Richard Norris
Winner: Kate Symonds-Joy
2011
Winner: Tempest Flute Trio
2009
Finalists:
- Consortium5
- VOICE
- The Heath Duo
- improv trio
- Rosie Coad & Michael Oliva
- Oconomy
- Nineteen-ninety-four
Winner: Consortium5
2008
Winner: Mercury Quartet
Nonclassical is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner supported by PPL and in association with Youth Music UK.
With thanks to our generous donors, including those who wish to remain anonymous, who are supporting the 2023 scheme.
Lawrence Anderson
Margaret Kelly
Marion Friend
Matthias Hvass Borello
Michael Noonan
Nick Rampley
Pat Wolstanholme
Ray Georgeson
Sara Lord
Toby Deller
Adam Nealon
Alan Davey
Claudia Molitor
Colin Matthews
Filip Hnízdo
Florence Anna Maunders
Gidon Cohen
Harriet Wybor
Jane Williams
Kimon Daltas
Hear from our 2019 Battle of the Bands winner, Reylon, about his experience of the event.