Page 111 - FINAL_RPS Awards 2021 Coverage Book_Full (2)
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Benedetti rightly added the Instrumentalist Award to her already impressive armoury, for
she is a true modern ambassador for classical music. With the ability to face outwards to
politicians but also inwards to those at early or difficult stages in their musical journey hers
is a consistently inspiring presence.
As the evening progressed it became ever clearer that each category had three nominations
that were effectively winners, and they were recognised as such in the excellent
presentations from RPS Chief Executive James Murphy, RPS Chairman and Director of
Wigmore Hall John Gilhooly and BBC Radio 3 presenter Katie Derham. They all brought a
fresh and enthusiastic approach to the awards, sharing with us the delight of simply being
in the same room again.
Further inspiration came from Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, winner of the Storytelling Award
for her book House of Music. In revealing just how many publishers had turned down the
volume ‘because black people don’t play classical music’ (!) she illustrated just how
persistence and endurance can overcome such ridiculous hurdles. Peter Brathwaite,
nominated for his Radio 3 program In Their Voices, showed the same thing
Elsewhere there were joyous stories of music making in lockdown, providing solace to
everyone. The World How Wide, led by the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia, won the
Series and Events Award with a vibrant recasting of Vaughan Williams’ Tallis Fantasia,
showing off the region’s natural beauty with a film directed by NOVAK that made you want
to be there:
