New Music Biennial

The New Music Biennial is a PRS Foundation initiative that supports and provides a platform for talented organisations and music creators who are pushing the boundaries of new music in the UK. Launched in 2012 as New Music 20×12 as part of the Cultural Olympiad programme and continuing and expanding into the New Music Biennial in 2014, 2017 and 2019 the festival creates a world class programme of commissions, performed at London’s Southbank Centre and across the UK and broadcast by BBC Radio 3.

New Music Biennial presents new music across all genres, from classical and chamber opera, to jazz, folk and electronic. We aim to reach new audiences for contemporary music and encourage ideas for short works no longer than 15 minutes duration which could be performed in a range of settings.

New Music Biennial aims to:

• celebrate and showcase the talent of the UK’s music sector and to raise the profile of composers from every part of the UK
• invest in excellent, new work which is performed more than once
• engage and inspire all kinds of audiences by commissioning and presenting new music in a dynamic and unusual way
• present a snapshot of the diverse and distinctive music which is created in the UK by composers at different stages of their career
• support organisations which are developing local and regional audiences for new music
• strengthen touring opportunities and working relationships between UK composers, commissioning bodies and performers