The Royal Philharmonic Society hosted a rousing evening, showcasing all of the great work that the classical sector does, at a time when so much music is being forced into silence. Highlights included composer John Williams winning the coveted Gold Medal, Steven Spielberg presenting a special congratulatory message to his long-time collaborator and a powerful speech from RPS Chairman John Gilhooly, on classical music and the pandemic.
Winners included Nottingham-raised cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason who received the Young Artists Award for captivating listeners worldwide; Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw picked up the Singer Award for her leading roles at Scottish Opera, English National Opera and Opera Holland Park; and the Scottish Ensemble received the Ensemble Award for their innovation and international reach in their 50th birthday year.
The PRS for Music supported award for Concert Series and Events went to Kings Place’s year-long Venus Unwrapped celebrating female artists; Andrea C. Martin, CEO, PRS for Music said of the winner: 'A huge congratulations from all of us at PRS for Music to Kings Place on winning the Concert Series and Events category. The spectacular Venus Unwrapped series showcased everything from classical to electronica, jazz to folk and contemporary to comedy. The series illuminated the often overlooked work of female composers throughout history and the invaluable contribution they have on our cultural identity and values.'
Internationally-revered composer John Williams was awarded this year’s RPS Gold Medal, recognising outstanding musicianship since 1870. He has dedicated his life to ensuring orchestral music continues to speak to and captivate millions of people worldwide. Accepting the medal via video, Williams said: ‘To receive this award is beyond any expectation I could possibly have. For any composer to be able to devote his or her life entirely to the composition of music is very fortunate indeed. I’d like to thank our musicians of our great orchestras in London and in the United States with whom I’ve worked so happily for so many years.’
Director Steven Spielberg sent his congratulations in a video recorded especially for the RPS, saying: ‘John, you have brought the classical idiom to young people all over the world through your scores, and through your classical training and your classical sensibilities. You are in the DNA of the musical culture of today.’
The new Inspiration Award – introduced to celebrate the extraordinary music-making that has uplifted the nation in lockdown – goes to six winners: Concerteenies, Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme, The Opera Story, Stay At Home Choir, #UriPosteJukeBox and the Virtual Benedetti Sessions. For this award, the RPS opened nominations to the public for the first time, inviting households nationally to share what has moved them musically since March: an unprecedented 2,700 nominations were received.
A prominent advocate for music this year, RPS Chairman John Gilhooly opened proceedings with a speech on the impacts the music community has faced over the past year: ‘Tonight we come together, in a year when our musical world has been largely immobilised, and, for a while, totally silenced. This could easily be an eighteen-month or longer crisis for live performance. We need our leaders to maintain an ongoing honest and open dialogue with our industry. We need a faster solution for getting aid to the self-employed. We need to be clear about the scale of what will be lost. We need to draw on every resource we can to heal and rebuild our society, and cannot allow music to be neglected or overlooked in this. As we continue on the uncertain road ahead, we draw on our inner strength, our resilience, and our solidarity as a community of musicians and music lovers; as a Philharmonic Community.’
The Impact Award – awarded for initiatives that have a lasting positive effect on people who may not otherwise experience classical music – goes to City of London Sinfonia for Sound Young Minds which powerfully defines how classical musicians can play a transformative role in the lives of young people with mental health issues, boosting their confidence, social skills and trust.
The Gamechanger Award recognising those who break new ground in classical music is awarded to conductor Jane Glover for earnestly carving a path for women conductors, long before it became a movement. Aptly complementing that, this year’s Conductor Award goes to Dalia Stasevska for the energy and integrity she has brought to her new association with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Other winners include: viola player Lawrence Power (Instrumentalist Award), an outstanding advocate for his instrument, constantly commissioning new works for the viola; composers Naomi Pinnock (Chamber-Scale Composition) for I am, I am and Frank Denyer (Large-Scale Composition) for The Fish That Became The Sun which waited 24 years to receive its UK premiere at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival last year; Garsington Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw (Opera and Music Theatre); and Stephen Hough’s book Rough Ideas (Storytelling).
Winners were announced in an online broadcast which can be viewed on demand on the RPS website. Presented by BBC Radio 3’s Georgia Mann, it features performances by Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Natalya Romaniw and Lawrence Power, specially filmed at the Wigmore Hall.
Longstanding RPS Awards partner BBC Radio 3, will present a musical celebration of the RPS Awards winners at 7.30pm on Monday 23 November.
Here's the full list of award winners:
RPS Gold Medal - John Williams
Chamber-Scale Composition - Naomi Pinnock - I am, I am
supported by Boosey & Hawkes in memory of Tony Fell
Concert Series & Events - Venus Unwrapped - Kings Place
supported by PRS for Music
Conductor - Dalia Stasevska
supported by BBC Music Magazine
Ensemble - Scottish Ensemble
supported by Schott Music
Gamechanger - Jane Glover
supported by Cazenove Capital
Impact - Sound Young Minds - City of London Sinfonia
supported by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Inspiration
Concerteenies
Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme
Stay At Home Choir
The Opera Story’s Episodes
#UriPosteJukeBox
Virtual Benedetti Sessions
supported by Decca Classics
Instrumentalist - Lawrence Power
supported by the Incorporated Society of Musicians
Large-Scale Composition - Frank Denyer - The Fish that Became the Sun (Songs of the Dispossessed)
supported by The Boltini Trust
Opera & Music Theatre - The Turn of the Screw - Garsington Opera
supported by Sir Simon and Victoria, Lady Robey OBE
Singer - Natalya Romaniw
supported by Jenny Hodgson
Storytelling - Stephen Hough - Rough Ideas
supported by an anonymous donor
Young Artists - Sheku Kanneh-Mason
supported by Tarisio
