The Ivors Academy has revealed the winners of the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards at The Ivors Classical Awards, held on 11 November 2025. The ceremony celebrated outstanding new compositions by British, Irish, and UK-resident composers who are shaping the future of classical music.
Anne Dudley, Anoushka Shankar, and Debbie Wiseman Receive Special Honours
Three of the UK’s most celebrated composers—Anne Dudley, Anoushka Shankar, and Debbie Wiseman—were each presented with special Gift of the Academy awards.
Anne Dudley, a world-renowned composer and producer, was inducted as the 33rd Fellow of The Ivors Academy, recognising her exceptional contribution to music.
Anoushka Shankar, known for her unique fusion of classical Indian and Western styles, received the Innovation Award for her boundary-pushing and experimental works.
Debbie Wiseman, one of Britain’s most successful screen composers, became the first-ever recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Screen Composition Award, celebrating her remarkable career in film and television music.
Winners Across Six Categories
A total of nine Ivor Novello Awards were presented across six categories, honouring composers and librettists for their creativity and craftsmanship. The winners included:
- Anibal Vidal, Anna Clyne, Helen Grime, Jonathan Dove, Luke Mombrea, and Nneka Cummins for their exceptional compositions.
- April De Angelis and Zoe Gilbert, who were recognised for their outstanding librettos.
A Celebration of Musical Excellence
The event was hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Tom McKinney and Kate Molleson, with guest presenters including:
- Chris Addison (director, comedian, and actor)
- Nitin Sawhney (composer and musician)
- Chris Robshaw (former England rugby captain)
- Camilla Kerslake (singer)
- Shiva Feshareki (composer and turntablist)
Partnerships and Broadcast Details
BBC Radio 3 will broadcast the full ceremony on 15 November 2025 in a special episode of the New Music Show, also available on BBC Sounds.
The Ivors Classical Awards were supported by PRS for Music and presented in association with BBC Radio 3.
- Presto Music was the exclusive streaming partner.
- Dorico sponsored the Best Orchestral Composition award.
- The Musicians’ Union supported the Innovation Award.
- The ABRSM sponsored the Best Community and Participation Composition category.
How Winners Were Chosen
The judging process for The Ivors Classical Awards is completely anonymous, ensuring fairness and transparency. All identifying information is removed before review.
This year, 30 composer judges from The Ivors Academy reviewed over 220 entries, creating a shortlist of 29 nominated works before selecting the winners.
Words from The Ivors Academy and BBC Radio 3
Roberto Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy, said:
“The Ivors Classical Awards celebrate the imagination, skill, and dedication that go into creating new music. Each award is a moment of peer recognition for composers, the most important people in music.”
Sam Jackson, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms, added:
“Congratulations to all of tonight’s winners. Championing contemporary composers is central to what we do at the BBC, and we’re proud to support and share their music with audiences across the UK.”
