Being a grandson of Sergei Prokofiev of “Peter and the Wolf” fame, Gabriel’s career choice was pretty much a foregone conclusion. After having graduated with a degree in composition, he developed an interest in hip hop music, which led him to start the “Nonclassical” record label in 2003. In 2011, he composed the orchestral “Concerto for Turntables”, which reached a global audience when performed by Mr. Switch at the 2011 BBC Proms, under the baton of Vladimir Jurowski. It has since been performed 55 times worldwide, with the 5th movement being performed 20 times as part of the BBC’s Ten Piece’s project. The aim of the piece is demonstrate the main DJing techniques, with each movement showing off a specific one.

Mr.Switch “MR SWITCH aka Anthony Culverwell is one of the most talented & successful DJs to come out of the UK. He became the reigning DMC WORLD CHAMPION in 2014, this being his 4th world title, following his back-to-back wins in the ‘Battle For World Supremacy’ three years in a row, from 2008-2010. Anthony performed as a soloist in Gabriel Prokofiev’s “Concerto For Turntables” alongside the National Youth Orchestra in 2011, becoming the first DJ in history to perform at the BBC Proms, the UK’s largest festival of classical music.

At the very first Sample Music Festival, Gabriel and Anthony discussed their collaboration and presented parts of the orchestral piece as part of the symposium.