On Tue 5 Mar, the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards recognised the best of classical music in a magical night at the RNCM, with the wildly popular Manchester Classical festival picking up a well-deserved gong for Best Event.
Held outside London for the first time in its history, the ceremony gathered an illustrious cohort of musical luminaries to celebrate their incredible contributions to classical forms across opera, composition, instrumentalism and more, as well as acknowledging the impact of local grassroots groups, unsung industry gamechangers and emerging young talent.
Staged as a collaboration between The Bridgewater Hall, the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata and Manchester Collective, Manchester Classical festival won the award for Best Event following a magical weekend of music at The Bridgewater Hall last June.
Other winners included Derwent Brass (Inspiration), BBC Singers, Leah Broad (Storytelling), the late composer Kaija Saariaho (Large-Scale Composition), the beloved Nicky Spence (Singer) and Leeds-born sitarist Jasdeep Singh Degun (Instrumentalist), who captivated RNCM audiences last audiences with a performance alongside the Scottish Ensemble.
The RPS Awards were hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Elizabeth Alker and Linton Stephens, with trophies presented by RPS Chairman John Gilhooly who said: ‘Too often this year, the story of classical music has been one of funding cuts and shrinking provision. Tonight we present a true picture of classical music’s quality, impact and radiance across the UK. This year’s RPS Awards winners are representative of music-makers nationwide, who – in challenging times – keep giving the very best of themselves for the benefit of others. We are proud to shine a light on their achievements, and hope it leads to greater recognition and pride for all that they collectively do.’
A film of the RPS Awards presentation will be freely available to watch for one month on the RPS website from Tuesday 12 March.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Fri 8 Mar 2024
