Nicola Benedetti nominated for two Classic Brits

Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti. Picture: Ian Rutherford

The West Kilbride born 26-year-old will compete for the female of the year and album of the year titles.

The shortlist of three who are in competition for the female artist of the year award – Alison Balsom, Joyce DiDonato and Nicola Benedetti – is the same as for 2012, although Benedetti came out on top a year ago.

Best album is the only award based on a public vote and is chosen by Classic FM listeners. It was won last year by And the Waltz Goes On by the Dutch  violinist André Rieu.

The pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi, whose work is familiar from TV and film, is also up for two awards at the event, to be staged on 2 October at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The other double nominees at the event – to be hosted once again by Myleene Klass – are Jonas Kaufmann, Lang Lang and Joseph Calleja.

A Franciscan friar will battle easy listening star Richard Clayderman and king of the waltz, André Rieu, for the best album prize at the awards.

Italian Friar Alessandro – who made his recording debut with Voice From Assisi last year – joins Clayderman, Rieu and seven other acts including Katherine Jenkins and Einaudi on the album list.

The French pianist Clayderman has been nominated for his first ever Classic Brit, following the release earlier this year of Romantique, which was his first album for more than a decade.

Composer Hans Zimmer, whose work has appeared in dozens of films including Inception and Pirates Of The Caribbean, will collect the outstanding contribution to music award as well as performing at the ceremony, which is officially called the “Classic Brit Awards 2013 with MasterCard”.