The Ivors Academy announced today that Anne Dudley will become an Academy Fellow, the highest honour it bestows. She will be inducted into Fellowship at The Ivors Classical Awards, which take place on 11 November at BFI Southbank in London.
Dudley receives Academy Fellowship in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to British music and her remarkable achievements as one of the nation’s most versatile and visionary composers, with a vibrant discography that spans the soundtrack, popular and classical music genres. Her impressive career has seen her win an Oscar, GRAMMY, BRIT and an Ivor Novello Award.
Anne Dudley is a pioneering figure in popular music. She was a founding member of 1980s electronic music group Art of Noise, whose experiments in sampling remain influential to this day. She was also arranger and keyboard player on the iconic Lexicon of Love album with ABC – she joins the band on an orchestral tour of the album through October and November this year. Her collaborators include major artists such as Will Young, Jeff Beck, Seal, The Pet Shop Boys and Robbie Williams. Dudley also produced Tom Jones’ hit song “You Can Leave Your Hat On”.
She has also written multiple iconic scores for film and TV, including The Full Monty (for which she won an Oscar and a BRIT Award), Poldark (nominated for two BAFTAs), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, American History X, The Crying Game and more. Dudley was also the music producer for the 2012 film version of Les Misérables.
As a classical composer, Dudley has composed a wide range of orchestral works, chamber music, opera and multimedia pieces. She was the BBC Concert Orchestra’s first Composer in Association, and her collaborators include violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Steven Isserlis, artist Sam Taylor Wood and ex-Monty Python member Terry Jones with who she wrote an opera. She was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music in 2006 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in Music by the University of Kent in 2010.
Recently, Anne branched out into film production for the first time, co-producing Signs of Life. Currently on the festival circuit, it won Best Film at the London Independent Film Festival.
Anne Dudley said: “I am immensely honoured to be included in such a roll call of iconic musicians and composers. I have been very fortunate in my career to have had the opportunity to explore a wide range of musical genres and I’ve never believed that there should be barriers between different styles.”
Roberto Neri, CEO of the Ivors Academy said: “Anne Dudley’s impact on music is truly remarkable. Her creativity crosses classical, film and pop with equal mastery. From her pioneering work with Art of Noise to her award-winning scores and orchestral compositions, her craft is astonishing. Versatile, inspiring and inventive, we are honoured to welcome Anne as a Fellow of The Ivors Academy at The Ivors Classical Awards on 11 November.”
Fellowship of The Ivors Academy recognises the highest level of excellence and impact in the art and craft of music creation. Since 2000, 33 composers and songwriters have been inducted into Fellowship, including Anne Dudley. The Academy has previously presented Fellowship to distinguished individuals including Joan Armatrading, David Arnold, Kate Bush, Elton John, James MacMillan, Paul McCartney, John Rutter, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. (U2), Errollyn Wallen and Judith Weir. More information about the Fellows can be found here.
Fellowship is the highest tier of membership at The Ivors Academy, and while it is a prestigious honour, the Academy is open to all songwriters and composers, united in its mission to empower, protect and champion writers at every stage of their careers. Whether emerging or established, every member has a voice and is part of a community that works to create a fairer and more sustainable future for all songwriters and composers.
The Ivors Classical Awards are supported by PRS for Music in association with BBC Radio 3 and will take place on Tuesday 11 November at the BFI Southbank in London. 34 composers and librettists are nominated for an Ivor Novello Award this year – more information about this year’s nominees can be found here. BBC Radio 3 will broadcast the ceremony on Saturday 15 November in a special edition of the New Music Show and the episode will also be available on BBC Sounds.
The Best Orchestral Composition Award is sponsored by Dorico, the Best Community and Participation Composition Award by ABRSM, the Innovation Award is sponsored by the Musicians’ Union and Presto Music are the exclusive streaming partner for the awards.
