High Score

High Score with Jessica Curry returns to Classic FM on Saturday 4th November.
Saturdays, 9-10pm. Text 61812, tweet @ClassicFM or email using the forms below.

In its 25th birthday year, Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station, broadcasted the first series on British radio dedicated to video game music (VGM). In April 2017, High Score was launched by the acclaimed BAFTA Award-winning composer Jessica Curry and the programme is now returning for a second series beginning on Saturday 4th November.

The acclaimed BAFTA Award-winning composer Jessica Curry is back to present each hour-long programme of the new series, which will launch and finish with all-request shows (4th November and 9th December), where Classic FM listeners will be in the driving seat to choose their favourite pieces of video game music. The other programmes will focus on different themes, as Jessica explores depictions of love (11th November) and quests (18th November); celebrates spoken and sung voices within games (25th November); before she selects the best video game music of 2017 (2nd December).

The new commission follows the success of the first series of High Score, broadcast in April and May, which has become the most popular programme on ‘Listen Again’ in Classic FM’s 25-year history.

In 2012, VGM first entered the Classic FM Hall of Fame – the world’s biggest annual survey of classical music tastes – and, since then, the station has been a significant supporter of the genre. Classic FM plays a range of pieces such as Aerith’s Theme from Final Fantasy VII and has devoted entire programmes to VGM. It has also premiered several video game scores including Fantasia: Music Evolved and Abzû.

Jessica Curry is an internationally acclaimed BAFTA award-winning composer of contemporary classical music and co-founder of the renowned games company, The Chinese Room. She wrote the music for the 2015 game Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture and for the powerful, genre-defying Dear Esther. The latter was brought to life on stage at The Barbican last year in Dear Esther Live, where it was played in real-time alongside musicians and the BAFTA-nominated narrator Oliver Dimsdale. Following its sell-out London premiere, the live concert experience is about to embark on a twelve-date UK tour, starting at Glasgow Tramway on Friday 3rd November.

Jessica Curry said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to present a second series of High Score for Classic FM. The first series was so much fun to do and the huge response that the show received was absolutely incredible. I’m just over the moon that people enjoyed it. I’m raring to go on the next one and can’t wait to hear what people come up with for the requests shows!”

Sam Jackson, Classic FM’s managing editor said: “We were so encouraged by the response to the first series of High Score. Since the launch of Classic FM 25 years ago, the station has been a pioneer and aimed to break down the barriers to classical music, so we can’t wait for the new series. It’s also great to welcome back Jessica. With her music enjoyed by millions around the world, she has proved to be the perfect host of the series, showcasing video game music to our 5.8 million weekly listeners, but also introducing fans of the genre to Classic FM.”