Page 112 - RPS Awards 2024 Coverage Book

Performances were heard from tenor Nicky Spence, Jasdeep Singh Degun and an
opening performance of Keiko Abe’s Conversation in the Forest from percussionists

representing all of Manchester's professional classical ensembles.

Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, who died in June 2023, received the Large-Scale

Composition Award for her opera Innocence, a piece of music exposing the
complexities of trauma surrounding a school shooting. Her son, and the opera’s co-

librettist, Aleksi Barrière collected the trophy in her name.

Jasdeep Singh Degun became the first sitar player to receive an RPS Award,
winning the Instrumentalist category, paying tribute to his 'musical parents' and early
influences in Indian classical music in his speech. François-Xavier Roth received the

Conductor Award for his work with the London Symphony Orchestra and his own
ensemble Les Siècles.

The power of community music making was also highlighted, with the 2024

Gamechanger Award received by music charity Irene Taylor Trust and artistic
director Sara Lee for its work using music for rehabilitation and healing in the
criminal justice system. Derbyshire’s Derwent Brass received the Inspiration Award

for non-professional groups and the Impact Award was presented to disabled
musician Clare Johnston and Drake Music Scotland.

Further achievements in opera, voice and storytelling were celebrated, with

composers Illia Razumeiko and Roman Grigoriv travelling to Manchester from
Ukraine to receive the Opera and Music Theatre Award for their

opera Chornobyldorf, created in collaboration with Huddersfield Contemporary Music
Festival.

Tenor Nicky Spence, recent Opera Now cover star, received the Singer Award for a
year of performances and recordings covering a huge breadth of repertoire from

Noel Coward to Wagner. The Young Artist Award was presented to mezzo soprano
Lotte Betts-Dean, who was unable to attend due to a debut at the Bayerische

Staatsoper in Weinberg's Die Passagierin.

The recently-restored BBC Singers were recognised, receiving the Ensemble Award

with the Storytelling Award going to writer Leah Broad for her book Quartet, telling
the stories of four 20th century women composers.