Classic BRIT Awards honour John Barry

The UK’s recorded music association, The BPI, has announced today that John Barry, the late film score composer, will be honoured with a Classic BRIT Award.

The first posthumous award in the history of both the classic and pop BRITs, the award for Outstanding Contribution to Music will be presented at the event that takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 12 May 2011. The award is in the gift of the Classic BRITs Committee.

The Award presentation will be followed by a celebration of some of Barry’s greatest scores, performed by The London Chamber Orchestra in a grand finale featuring contributions from some of the UK’s most celebrated classical performers. The organisers are also delighted to confirm that Dame Shirley Bassey will take to the stage for a debut Classic BRIT Awards appearance with a show-stopping performance of ‘Goldfinger’.

John Barry originally trained as a classical pianist and learned to play trumpet before starting to perform as a musician during his National Service in Cyprus. In a career spanning almost 50 yearsJohn Barry scored more than 125 films including the Academy Award winning scores for ‘Born Free’, ‘The Lion in Winter’, ‘Out of Africa’, ‘Dances with Wolves’ and ‘Somewhere in Time’. Publicly the name John Barry is most recognised for his collaborations with friend and English lyricist Don Black and his compositions for the James Bond film series, including ‘Diamonds Are Forever’, ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Moonraker’, ‘From Russia With Love’, ‘Dr. No’ and ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ to name just a few.

In 1999, a new John Barry studio album, ‘The Beyondness Of Things’, took the number one spot on the Official UK Classical Chart. 2006 saw John Barry executive produce the album ‘Here’s to the Heroes’ by the Australian ensemble The Ten Tenors. John Barry died aged 77 on 30 January 2011.

His wife Laurie said: "John would be so honoured to be receiving the 'Outstanding Contribution to Music Award' at The Classic BRIT Awards. He was an advocate of classical musicians and the growth of classical music in the UK. On behalf of his family, we are very grateful that he has been recognized for his achievements."

Following the Classic BRIT Awards, the Royal Albert Hall on 20 June 2011 will host a memorial concert to celebrate the life of John Barry. All profits from the concert will benefit the newly established, John Barry Scholarship for Film Composition, at the Royal College of Music in London.

The Classic BRIT Awards 2011 will be hosted by Myleene Klass, presiding over a gala evening with the presentation of eight awards and performances from trumpeter Alison Balsom, German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, Eric Whitacre and The Eric Whitacre Singers, tenor Alfie Boe with a performance with the cast of Les Misérables, Russell Watson, Katherine Jenkins and ‘Artist of the Decade’ recipients Il Divo, making their Classic BRIT Award debut and world-premiering a new song. The London Chamber Orchestra conducted by Christopher Warren-Green will accompany all performers.

Established in 2000 to honour and recognise all forms of classical music from contemporary to crossover, opera to soundtracks, traditional to theatre, the Classic BRIT Awards 2011 will celebrate British successes both nationally and internationally. Forming a two-hour musical spectacular, this gala night will feature some of the greatest British talent and music, plus global stars on the same stage for one magnificent night.

More tickets for the Classic BRIT Awards have just been released and are on sale now and are available from the Royal Albert Hall box office. Ranging from £20 to £287.50 for a full dinner/show experience, the Classic BRIT Awards remains one of the best value for money experiences on the classical calendar.

The Classic BRIT awards 2011 will be broadcast on ITV1 in May.

For more information, visit: classicbrits.co.uk