FOREST of Dean-born composer Gavin Higgins has claimed the esteemed Ivor Novello Classical Music Award for Best Orchestral Composition.

The accolade was awarded for his Horn Concerto, which premiered with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, featuring renowned horn player Ben Goldscheider.

The achievement cements the Whitecroft-raised composer’s status as one of Britain’s leading composers. Described as “boldly imaginative” by The Times and “one of the most interesting voices of his generation” by Limelight, his work resonates deeply with his roots in the Forest.

Mr Higgins' compositions are said to reflect the landscapes, stories, and musical traditions of the region, blending the natural sounds of the forest with the heritage of brass bands and choirs.

His latest album, The Faerie Bride | Horn Concerto, will be released on Friday, February 7, 2025, by Monmouth-based Nimbus Records. The album also features The Faerie Bride, a cantata inspired by the Welsh legend of the Lady of Llyn y Fan Fach, with a libretto by Francesca Simon.

Mr Higgins explained that the myth’s strong female character, who navigates cultural differences on her own terms, is a powerful and empowering narrative.

A patron of Young Sounds UK and an advocate for working-class voices in classical music, Mr Higgins has a unique ability to intertwine personal history with universal themes.

In addition to his work as a composer, Mr Higgins is a familiar voice on Radio 4, appearing regularly on Add to Playlist and hosting Everything Stops, a documentary exploring the relationship between music and Tourette’s Syndrome.

His earlier album, Ekstasis, was released to critical acclaim in 2019, with Limelight praising him as “an artisan craftsman of tightly threaded textures.”

His upbringing in a former mining community in the Forest and his connection to the Welsh borderlands have clearly left a lasting impression on his work.