Eric Whitacre's score nominated for MIA Music Award

US composer Eric Whitacre’s vocal score Light and Gold has received a nomination at the Music Industries Association (MIA) Awards.
The book, which compiles a new collection of works by the composer for mixed choir, is listed in the Best Classical Publication category. It features pieces such as Lux Aurumque, Sleep and Boy and a Girl.
Light and Gold was released last year and speaking of the collection, the composer said: “I’m often asked which of my compositions is my favourite. I don’t really have one that I love more than the others, but I do feel that the four measures that musically paint the text ‘never kissing’ may be the truest notes I’ve ever written.”
Whitacre has had a successful year so far. His award-winning musical Paradise Lost is currently being adapted for a stage show and soundtrack and he is getting ready for the third Virtual Choir, the project that made him a YouTube hit.
With the aim to bring classical music to a new audience, 185 members of the public from 12 countries lent their voice for Lux Aurumque, edited by Whitacre, which received over one million hits in its first two months.
Virtual Choir 2 was released on April 7th and this time featured the piece Sleep.
Other nominations at this year’s MIA Awards include Absolute Beginners: Ukulele, in the Best Education Publication category.
Meanwhile, Adele’s songbook of the award-winning album 21 is listed in the Best Pop Publication alongside Legendary Guitar Acoustic Songs and Play Guitar with Led Zeppelin.
The awards celebrate the best products and retail initiatives within the UK’s musical instrument industry. It is organised by the MIA, the UK trade association for manufacturers, distributors, publishers, retailers and educators of instruments and associated products.
Winners will be announced on November 30th at London’s Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel.