Page 151 - RPS Awards 2024 Coverage Book

Derwent Brass have become the first brass band to be directly presented with a
Royal Philharmonic Society Award.

The awards were first presented in 1989 and are presented at what is called "the
biggest night in UK classical music". It follows the success of Tredegar Band who
were recognised as part of the 2023 Large Scale Composition Award winner

Gavin Higgins' 'Concerto for Brass Band and Orchestra'.

Public vote

The RPS Inspiration Award 2024, voted for by 5,434 members of the general
public, was presented to the band on an evening of celebration held at the Royal

Northern College of Music.

Following a wave of support from within the brass band and local community,
Derwent topped a short list that also included the Sheffield Philharmonic
Chorus, The Sunday Boys, and the Glasgow Madrigirls, with all groups each
receiving over 1,000 votes each.

The nominees were identified for inclusion by Manvinder Rattan (Chief
Executive, Voices Foundation, Musical Director, Hertford Choral Society); Paul
MacAlindin (Conductor, Artistic Director, The Glasgow Barons); Rachel Lindley
(Director, Music Publishing, Oxford University Press); Rhiannon Harrison
(Trombonist, Chairperson of Making Music), and Ula Weber (Choral Conductor

and Animateur).

One step further

On accepting the award (above), Music Director Jack Capstaff said: "Brass
bands, for all their foibles, have always been good at giving great access to

music making.

Derwent go one step further in trying to programme a schedule of concerts,
projects, and innovative new music to be able to engage not only those within
our existing brass band community, but those wider; those from diverse
backgrounds that would otherwise have limited, if any, exposure to western
classical music.

He added: "It really is a treat to be here representing not only Derwent Brass,
but also representing brass banding more generally."