2015 in British music
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See also: Timeline of musical events
This is a summary of the year 2015 in British music.
Events
- 5 January – An official statement from Glyndebourne confirms that Danielle De Niese and her husband, Gus Christie, chairman of Glyndebourne Opera, are expecting their first child.[1]
- 15 January – The nominations for the 2015 Brit Awards are announced, with Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and George Ezra dominating many of the categories.[2]
- 22 January – It is announced that BBC Radio 1's annual Big Weekend event this year will be held at Earlham Park, Norwich.[3]
- 8 February – Sam Smith is the big winner at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, winning Best New Artist, and Record and Song of the Year for "Stay with Me from the album In the Lonely Hour, which subsequently won Best Vocal Album.
- 25 February – Ed Sheeran and Paloma Faith win Best British Male and Female Solo Artist at this year's Brit Awards, with x winning Best Album and "Uptown Funk" winning Best Single. Notable moments of the night include Kanye West's controversial perfornance of "All Day" and Madonna falling off stage during her performance of "Living for Love".[4]
- 3 March – The London Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Sir Simon Rattle as its next music director, effective September 2017, with an initial contract of 5 years.[5]
- 7 March – The BBC confirms that Electro Velvet's 1920s inspired song "Still in Love with You" has been chosen to represent the UK at this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
- 9 March – Sam Smith releases a special remake of his song "Lay Me Down", featuring John Legend, as this year's official Comic Relief single.
- 10 March – Sarah Brightman confirms she has been working on a song with Andrew Lloyd Webber that she can perform in space aboard the International Space Station in September.[6]
- 11 March
- The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Thomas Dausgaard as its 11th chief conductor, effective with the 2016–2017 season.[7]
- Simon Halsey is announced as the recipient of the Queen's Medal for Music 2014.[8]
- 18 March – Julian Lloyd Webber is confirmed as the Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire.[9]
- 20 May – Ye Yanchen's new work, Septet, to be premiered at St Illtud's Church, Llantwit Major, by soloists from China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra.[10]
Television series
- 10 January
- Launch of the fourth series of The Voice UK (series 4)
- Return of Stars in Their Eyes after nearly ten years off air.
- 16 January – Sound of Song, presented by Neil Brand[11]
- 26 January – Launch of new music based entertainment show, South Side Story.
- 7 March - Reginald D. Hunter's Songs of the South begins on BBC Two.[12]
Musical comedy
- School of Rock, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book by Julian Fellowes
Musical films
- Kill Your Friends, starring Nicholas Hoult and Georgia King.[13]
Charts
Main article: 2015 in British music charts
Artists/Groups reformed
Groups disbanded
Classical works
- Julian Anderson – In lieblicher Bläue (Violin Concerto)[14]
- Sally Beamish – "Be still" (Introit)[15]
- Peter Fribbins - Violin Concerto[16]
Opera
- 21 May - UK premiere of Gaetano Donizetti's Poliuto at Glyndebourne.[17]
Film scores and incidental music
Film
Television
British music awards
- Brit Awards - see 2015 Brit Awards
Deaths
- 1 January – Matthew Cogley, musician and songwriter (Failsafe), 30[19]
- 6 January – Lance Percival, actor and singer, 81[20]
- 22 January – Joan Hinde, trumpet player, 81
- 27 January – Margot Moir, Scottish-born Australian singer (The Moir Sisters), 55[21]
- 12 February – Steve Strange, singer (Visage), 55 (heart attack)[22]
- 13 February – John McCabe, British composer and pianist, 75[23]
- 25 February – Chris Rainbow, rock singer and musician (The Alan Parsons Project), 68[24]
- 16 March – Andy Fraser, composer and bassist (Free), 62[25]
- 21 March – Jackie Trent, singer-songwriter and actress, 74[26]
- 23 March
- Roy Douglas, composer, 107[27]
- Lil Chris, singer-songwriter, musician, 24
- 26 March – John Renbourn, guitarist and songwriter (Pentangle), 70
- 28 March
- Josie Jones, singer (The Mighty Wah!)[28] (death announced on this date)
- Ronald Stevenson, composer and pianist, 87[29]
- 1 April - Dave Ball, musician (Procol Harum), 65[30]
- 3 April - Andrew Porter, organist, music critic, and opera director, 86[31]
- 27 April - Pixie Lott, Musician (All About Tonight), 24
References
- ↑ Glyndebourne website: "Glyndebourne is delighted to announce that Mr and Mrs Gus Christie are expecting a baby in May". Accessed 6 January 2015
- ↑ "BRIT Awards 2015 Nominations List: Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and George Ezra lead the way!". Capital FM (Global Limited). 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "Radio 1's Big Weekend 2015 is coming to Norwich". BBC Newsbeat (BBC). 22 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "Brit Awards 2015: Madonna falls off stage". BBC News (BBC). 26 February 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ↑ Mark Brown (2015-03-03). "Simon Rattle appointed music director of London Symphony Orchestra". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
- ↑ "Sarah Brightman to perform Lloyd Webber song in space". BBC News (BBC). 10 March 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ↑ "BBC SSO new Chief Conductor announced at launch of orchestra’s 2015/16 season" (Press release). BBC Media Centre. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
- ↑ "Simon Halsey awarded the Queen's Medal for Music". Gramophone. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
- ↑ Classic FM "Julian Lloyd Webber is new principal of Birmingham Conservatoire", 18 March 2015
- ↑ Vale of Glamorgan Festival. Accessed 6 January 2015
- ↑ BBC Media Centre. Accessed 6 January 2015
- ↑ "Reginald D Hunter's Songs of the South, BBC Two, review: 'fascinating'", The Telegraph, 8 March 2015. Accessed 18 March 2015
- ↑ Yamato, Jen (3 March 2014). "Jim Piddock Joins Britpop Comedy Adaptation ‘Kill Your Friends’". deadline.com. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ↑ Ivan Hewett (2015-03-15). "London Philharmonic Orchestra and Carolin Widmann, Royal Festival, Hall, review: 'divine'". Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
- ↑ BBC Radio 3, Choral Evensong, 4 March 2015
- ↑ What's on at Cadogan Hall. Accessed 10 January 2015
- ↑ Glyndebourne - Events. Accessed 28 January 2015
- ↑ Debbie Wiseman official website. Accessed 28 January 2015
- ↑ "Matthew Cogley dead: The Inbetweeners musician passes away on New Year's Day", Mirror, 3 January 2015
- ↑ Percival
- ↑ Margot Moir Of The Moir Sisters Dead At 55
- ↑ New Romantic pioneer Strange dies
- ↑ Composer and pianist John McCabe dies aged 75
- ↑ Chris Rainbow, Singer With Alan Parsons Project and Camel, Dies
- ↑ Andy Fraser Dies
- ↑ Singer-songwriter Jackie Trent dies, aged 74
- ↑ Roy Douglas, composer - obituary
- ↑ Liverpool musician Pete Wylie heartbroken after death of The Mighty Wah! performer Josie Jones
- ↑ Music mourns a Great Scot
- ↑ Dave Ball passed away
- ↑ Multifaceted Music Critic Andrew Porter Dies At 86
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