Composer John Barber has been awarded a £10,000 Arts Foundation Futures Award for Choral Composition. He was chosen by a panel of judges including composer Orlando Gough, founder of Pimlico and Grange Park Operas Wasfi Kani, and the soprano Juliet Fraser.

‘John Barber's catalogue of works is already a fantastic testimony to the breadth of the choral tradition here in the UK, with works for amateurs, professionals, first-time singers, marginalised communities and people of all ages,’ the citation read. ‘The panel was impressed by John's deep engagement in the question of how choral music can serve diverse audiences, and is delighted to support the further development of this accomplished and distinctive compositional voice.'

The award is aimed at helping with living and working costs, and was presented yesterday at an online celebration hosted by Lily Cole.

John Barber's works including Consider the Lilies, exploring the stories of refugees in the UK, and have a strong focus on music for youth and community groups, including We Are Shadows for Spitalfields Music and Mighty Oaks for the Royal Opera House. For ten years he ran Woven Gold, a choir comprising refugees and asylum seekers, and London-based musicians. Upcoming projects include The Selfish Giant for Garsington Opera, and Existence for the Arctic Light Choir/Gothenburg Opera Youth Choir.

Other 2021 Arts Foundation Futures awards were given for environmental writing, theatre-making, materials innovation and visual art. Previous winners of music-related awards include conductor Nicholas Collon, composer David Sawer and the Belcea Quartet. 

You can hear a piece by John Barber, commissioned and performed by ORA Singers, below: