Brian Byrne at the IFTAs

Navan composer Brian Byrne has won two awards at the highly prestigious World Soundtrack Awards 2012, announced at the Ghent International Film Festival.

Brian won Discovery of the Year for his score to Albert Nobbs, recorded with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and Best Original Song for Lay Your Head Down, lyrics by Glenn Close, performed by Sinéad O'Connor with the RTÉ CO.

Lay Your Head Down took the Best Original Song award ahead of songs performed by Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Florence and The Machine and Academy Award winner Bret McKenzie. This follows an IFTA win and a place on the Oscar longlist for the Albert Nobbs score and a Golden Globe nomination for Lay Your Head Down.

The Albert Nobbs soundtrack was recorded in RTÉ Radio Centre by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, with Brian Byrne himself conducting, and he has paid tribute to the role of the orchestra in his success: "I am incredibly proud of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and its enormous contribution to the Albert Nobbs soundtrack. I am so glad I got to do it with the home team. This orchestra's versatility is unmatched in Europe - let's hope there will be many more collaborations like this one."

The long-standing and fruitful relationship between Brian and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra continues in November when his first classical album Tales from the Walled City, with the RTÉ CO and guests including soprano Danielle de Niese and violinist Nicola Benedetti, will be released on the Decca label.

Brian recently entertained guests at the Meath All-Ireland winning team of 1987 25th anniversary celebrations at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim.

World Soundtrack Award Nominees List:

Film Composer of the Year

Alexandre Desplat (A Better Life, Carnage, De rouille et d'os (Rust & Bone), Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Moonrise Kingdom, The Ides of March)

Alberto Iglesias (Le Moine (The Monk), La piel que habito (The Skin I Live In), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

Cliff Martinez (Contagion, Drive)

Howard Shore (A Dangerous Method, Cosmopolis, Hugo)

John Williams (The Adventures of Tintin, War Horse)

Winner: Alberto Iglesias

Best Original Film Score of the Year

Drive by Cliff Martinez

Hugo by Howard Shore

The Adventures of Tintin by John Williams

The Ides of March by Alexandre Desplat

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by Alberto Iglesias

Winner: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by Alberto Iglesias

Best Original Song written directly for a Film

Lay Your Head Down from Albert Nobbs

music by Brian Byrne, lyrics by Glenn Close, performed by Sinéad O'Connor and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Breath of Life from Snow White and the Huntsman

music & lyrics by Florence Welch & Isabella Summers, performed by Florence + The Machine

The Living Proof from The Help

music & lyrics by Thomas Newman, Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason Jr & Damon Thomas, performed by Mary J. Blige

Man or Muppet from The Muppets

music & lyrics by Bret McKenzie, performed by Jason Segel and Walter

Masterpiece from W.E.

music & lyrics by Madonna, Julie Frost & Jimmy Harry, performed by Madonna

Winner: Lay Your Head Down from Albert Nobbs music by Brian Byrne, lyrics by Glenn

Close, performed by Sinéad O'Connor and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Discovery of the Year: Brian Byrne for Albert Nobbs

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