Page 69 - RPS Awards 2023 Coverage Book

vital importance played in our national life by education, funding, and musical
excellence were all powerfully expressed.

This speech - one, as Gilhooly made a point to mention, firmly rooted in
conversations with key colleagues in the classical world - established the evening's

tone. Not, however, in the sense of shadowing it all with downbeat despair, but in
placing firmly at the forefront of everyone's mind just how precious and valuable

classical music is. Perhaps it made the recognition of each and every winner all the
more heartfelt. Applause and whoops were in no shortage as the event progressed.

'Classical music policy and strategy is confused and all over the place', Gilhooly said.
'But our amazing resources and talents could work wonders if properly harnessed.

An occasion like this allows us to send a message to government that we must
cherish our composers, our musicians, and our proud musical heritage.'

The evening's musical beginning, meanwhile, was suitably illustrative: Sheku

Kanneh-Mason performing a world premiere of a movement from a new cello sonata
by Leo Brouwer: a young and hugely popular artist, brand new music by a revered
composer, and funded by the RPS itself.

Awards included organist and conductor Anna Lapwood receiving the Gamechanger

Award in recognition of both her musical excellence but also the way her embrace of
social media has drawn the attention of - literally - millions towards an instrument

and art form they might not otherwise have encountered.

South African cellist Abel Selaocoe received the Instrumentalist Award; ENO Music
Director Martyn Brabbins the Conductor Award; Gavin Higgins the Large Scale
Composition Award for his Concerto Grosso for Brass Band and Orchestra; Ben

Nobuto the Chamber Scale Composition Award for SERENITY 2.0; Anna Dennis the
Singer Award, Timothy Ridout the Young Artist Award.

But as always with the RPS, it's the spotlight shone on the locally-focussed or

outreach projects and performances that makes this occasion so unique: Leeds
Piano Trail for filling its city's streets with pianos and piano-themed installation;
Torbay Symphony Orchestra for inspiring players and audiences old and young; The

Endz from The Multi-Story Orchestra for allowing Peckham's young people to
express their feelings following the death by stabbing of one of their peers;