awards

Orchestras for All wins award for Outstanding Musical Initiative at the Music and Drama Education Awards 2022

“The judges were impressed by this initiative’s commitment to a truly inclusive experience for its members.”

Orchestras for All (OFA) is excited to announce that it has won the award for Outstanding Musical Initiative at the Music and Drama Education Awards 2022.

The prestigious accolade – sponsored this year by the Royal Marines Band Service – recognises any project in the UK that ‘has demonstrably improved music provision for students of any age,’ which can be run within an educational setting, charitably or commercially, and with any genre of music as its focus.

Taking place at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, last night’s glittering ceremony – hosted by Classic FM presenter, Myleene Klass – was attended by a team of individuals, schools, charities and organisations from all across the country, to celebrate the positive impact that these two key performing arts have on our lives.

Commending OFA for its efforts during the pandemic, Klass told audience members: “The judges were impressed by this initiative’s commitment to a truly inclusive experience for its members as well as a commitment to engaging with, and truly understanding, who they are trying to reach. They were also impressed by the team’s immediate and flexible response to lockdown.”

Meanwhile, Major Tom Crane of The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Collingwood – known worldwide for their musical morale boosters – made the big announcement as one of the event’s main sponsors.

Read more: Modulo resumes live events as music teachers and students join classrooms nationwide in ‘joyful’ music-making programme >

Awards host and Classic FM presenter, Myleene Klass, joins OFA in celebrating the win (Credit: Twitter)

In the UK, thousands of young people aged 11-18 currently face significant barriers to orchestral music-making – whether that’s due to a physical disability, mental health condition, economic deprivation or rural isolation – and this has been exacerbated by the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meet Orchestras for All’s inspiring young musicians >

Orchestras for All’s vision is a country where any young person can have access to music-making – and to help achieve this, it has launched three powerful programmes: National Orchestra for All (the only fully inclusive, non-auditioned national youth orchestra in the world), Modulo, which kickstarts a vibrant music-making culture in schools and music hubs, and its Music Leadership Training course, supporting under-resourced teachers across the country.

NOFA ambassador, Kate, said: “A massive thank you for this award! It’s amazing to see OFA being recognised on a respected stage for all the amazing work that we do. However, this wouldn’t have been possible without our inspiring members and their feedback as well as our staff, who work tirelessly to make access to music-making a more normalised opportunity in so many different societies.”

NOFA ambassador, Joe, commented: “Winning this award really does go to show just how committed OFA is to providing amazing support to individuals and schools around the country. We are so appreciative that our work for increasing inclusion and access to music has been seen and heard so widely! A tremendous thanks to those who have supported us through to winning this wonderful award.”

Orchestras for All takes to the stage with The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines (Credit: Twitter)

Read Orchestras for All’s Impact Report 2020-2021 >

OFA’s Executive Director, Nick Thorne, added: “I have so much pride and admiration in everything that Orchestras for All has achieved during the pandemic and this recognition from the Music and Drama Education Awards goes out to each and every young musician, teacher, school, funder, partner, volunteer, tutor, trustee, freelancer and team member for their part.”

He continued: “It takes a village to raise a musician and without everyone, we wouldn’t be able to reach those most vulnerable young people who are too often excluded from participating in musical opportunities. My dream is that one day, organisations like Orchestras for All need not focus on breaking down barriers to music-making and that all organisations, schools, charities and musical opportunities in the UK are fully inclusive, accessible and open to all.”

Joining Nick for the memorable occasion were Emily Sayers and Kate Danielson, who both celebrate eight years of being on OFA’s Board of Trustees and will be stepping down after their final term this year.

The unsung heroes of the organisation, Kate and Emily, joined the charity at the very start and believed in its mission from day one. Between them, they have volunteered weeks of their time and supported the team to make OFA the impactful charity that it is today.  

OFA’s Executive Director, Nick Thorne, celebrates the award win with trustees Kate Danielson and Emily Sayers

Shortlisted alongside Orchestras for All in the Outstanding Musical Initiative category were Durham Music’s Big Play 2021, Lockdown Piping Club, Manor Music City, MiSST, Rap Club, Warwick Music Group (for Buzz21), and Young Voices, for YV Biggest Sing 2021.

Other worthy winners on the night included David Lewis, who took home the Lifetime Achievement Award, Ullswater Community College, for Outstanding School Music Department, and Theatre31, who won the Drama & Theatre Magazine Editor’s Award, to name but a few.

On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, thank you to those who have been part of our incredible music-making journey so far – our work and this award wouldn’t have been possible without you.

To support OFA’s life-changing programmes, please donate today >

RPS Awards: winners announced for 2021 as Abel Selaocoe and The Hermes Experiment stun with live performances

Pictured: Abel Selaocoe and Ryan Bancroft (left) and The Hermes Experiment (right). Credit: Twitter @kate_caro and @TheHExperiment

“Music will help us through anything, so long as we help the musicians who make it,” says RPS Chief Executive, James Murphy.

Last night, the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards 2021 announced its winners in a glittering live ceremony at London’s iconic Wigmore Hall.

Hosted by BBC Radio 3’s Katie Derham and RPS Chief Executive, James Murphy, it was surely a memorable event for attendees following almost two years of music venue closures during the coronavirus pandemic.

James Murphy, said: “Once again, in times of struggle, our eyes and ears have been opened to the essential role that music plays. Musicians have shown us what role they can play in fortifying the nation.

“Everyone we applaud tonight is representative of countless more creative forces across the country, many onstage working their magic as we stand here. Here’s to that bright constellation of music-makers.”

Read more: Teenage flautist quizzes Orchestras for All founder as charity celebrates 10-year milestone >

English National Opera’s Breathe scheme wins the RPS Award for Impact. Credit: Twitter @E_N_O

Supported by ABRSM, English National Opera’s inspiring scheme, Breathe, took home the prize for the Impact category – with Orchestras for All (OFA) and Live Music Now both making it as proud finalists.

Discover Orchestras for All’s programmes >

Led by ENO Director of Baylis, Jenny Mollica, and delivered in close collaboration with Imperial College Healthcare, the online breathing and wellbeing programme was developed to help recovering Covid-19 patients struggling with breathlessness and associated anxiety through singing.

While speaking about OFA’s efforts during the pandemic, James Murphy told audiences that the charity had become something of a ‘national treasure’ thanks to its three powerful programmes and culture of inclusive music-making.

Other winners on the night included Scottish violinist, Nicola Benedetti, who was presented with the Instrumentalist Award for the ‘outstanding quality and scope’ of her performances, presented digitally or for a live audience.

Members of the Orchestras for All team celebrate at the RPS Awards 2021 after being shortlisted for Impact.

Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason took to the stage to accept the Storytelling award for her book, House of Music – a powerful and heartrending memoir detailing the remarkable journey of her musical family in a country divided by class and race.

During her speech, the mother of seven said: “House of Music is many things, but it is at its heart about gratitude.”

Read more: ‘Coming from a working class family, classical music seemed so inaccessible’, says teenage clarinetist >

Meanwhile, Hilary Campbell and the Bristol Choral Society made it to the top spot for the newly introduced Inspiration Award – as voted for by the public – and BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ principal conductor, Ryan Bancroft, was commended for his ‘electrifying concerts’ with the RPS Conductor award.

Chamber ensemble The Hermes Experiment perform Piazzolla at the RPS Awards. Credit: @TheHExperiment

Tribute was also paid to star mezzo-soprano, Jennifer Johnston, with the RPS award for Singer, Dani Howard’s Trombone Concerto won Large-Scale Composition, and chamber ensemble, The Hermes Experiment, collected the prize for Young Artist before treating audiences to their dazzling arrangement of Piazzolla’s ‘Concert of d’aujourd’hui’ from Histoire du Tango.

Other highlights included an energetic opening performance of ‘Ka Bohaleng’ from South African cellist, Abel Selaocoe, and a rousing recital from bassoonist Ashby Mayes – who received financial assistance from RPS in 2018 for buying his bassoon and is now an undergraduate student at the Royal College of Music.

On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, we would like to thank the Royal Philharmonic Society and Wigmore Hall for a wonderful evening of music and togetherness, and extend our congratulations to all fellow nominees and worthy winners at this year’s Awards.


To fund Orchestras for All’s life-changing programmes, please donate today >