We're shortlisted in the Prix Europa - Europe's most prestigious audio awards

In every industry, there are awards, and there are awards. 

‍

‍Bespoken Media have had more than our share of awards success nods this year - with nominations at the AIPs, the international Premios Ondas del Podcast, and - closer to home - the wonderful Celtic Media Awards.

‍

But the Prix Europa are something different again.

‍

Making it onto the shortlist for these awards puts us amongst the very best audio producers anywhere in the world.

‍

That's not sales-y marketing hyperbole. It's rock solid, empirical fact.

‍

I was pretty emotional when I heard the news. Our senior producer Carys Wall, who had painstakingly prepared our entry, had been monitoring the Prix Europa website (on their day off). They sent a Whatsapp to the team channel that dropped like 'breaking news' agency copy:

‍

"Georgian polyphonic feast has been nominated! Prix Europa is one of the most prestigious awards for broadcaster-funded work".

‍

I couldn't be more proud of our brave, creative team, and the work we do together.

‍

Like most great ideas, A Georgian Polyphonic Feast has a simple premise; be in the room for an extraordinary (and unique) singing event, and tell the story of what goes on.

‍

One of our brilliant freelancers, Amanda Hargreaves, first brought the idea to me. Together, we were able to persuade Radio 4 Illuminated commissioner Hugh Levinson to let us make the programme (thanks Hugh!).

‍

Then the team went ahead and made it. Amanda and Carys Wall went to Paris to record, and worked with French freelance sound recordist Léonard Ibanez. Our on-air hosts and Supra guides were ethnomusicologist Luna Silva and Georgian master of ceremonies Levan Bitarovi, with contributions from Parisian attendee Gilles Robel.  

‍

The recorded material was then edited by Amanda, and the music and engineering mix done by Glasgow-based sound designer Joel Cox, with support and creative input from Carys, in their role as exec producer.

‍

Since the news came out, I've been really enjoying seeing the comments pile up on Carys' and Amanda's social media posts - from exuberantly supportive friends and peers; one in particular stands out, from a friend of Carys's called Juliana. This may be the best news ever, she says, "but only so far. Here's to many more to come!"

‍

See you in Berlin, European audio world!

‍

‍

You can listen to A Georgian Polyphonic Feast in full at BBC Sounds.

‍

‍