Shingai Shoniwa above. Photo: Emile Holba

The chosen composers for the first New Music Biennial, to begin in January next year, have been unveiled. The PRS for Music-backed initiative will see new music performed at weekend showcases to be held at the Southbank Centre in London, and the UNESCO city of music in Glasgow next July and August, and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and available as downloads. Covering contemporary classical, folk, jazz, world music, urban and electronic music of the jazz composers involved Gwilym Simcock commissioned by City of London Sinfonia will combine with clarinettist Michael Collins in a work for clarinet, strings, jazz trio and speaker. Glyndebourne young composer in residence Luke Styles commissioned by Juice Vocal Ensemble will feature experimental vocal trio Juice and BBC New Generation artist Trish Clowes’ jazz/classical ensemble Tangent, performing alongside three dancers retelling a Native Canadian folk tale. Avant-garde composer Piers Hellawell will create a new work involving improvising trio Bourne Davis Kane, which has been commissioned by Belfast promoter Moving On Music; and The Noisettes’ Shingai Shoniwa and The Invisible’s David Okumu, commissioned by London promoter Serious, are to create a new vocal work inspired by the values of the 2014 Commonwealth Games to involve community choirs.