Page 20 - FINAL_RPS Awards 2021 Coverage Book

• The 2021 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards welcomes back live audiences for
star-studded event at London’s Wigmore Hall on 1 November
• The first ever public-voted RPS Award is announced – inviting the public to choose
the winner of the award for the most inspirational musical achievements by non-
professional ensembles across the UK
• The RPS announces vastly reduced ticket prices in new and refreshed awards
format, and commits to presenting the RPS Awards at venues outside London from
2023

The 2021 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards will take place at London’s Wigmore
Hall on Monday 1 November. For the first time since the pandemic, music-lovers and
music-makers will gather together in person to celebrate the outstanding, the
pioneering and the inspirational in both amateur and professional classical music,
championing the treasured role – highlighted more than ever in this most challenging
of years – that classical music plays in our lives.

The Royal Philharmonic Society was founded in 1813 to support and celebrate
classical music’s vital, powerful place in society. Over 200 years later, it continues to
champion music’s power to inspire and enrich countless lives nationwide and those
who work tirelessly to bring music into communities and to new audiences.

This year, in addition to the usual categories whose winners are chosen by expert
independent panels, for the very first time the winner of the Inspiration Award will be
decided by the public. The Inspiration Award was newly introduced last year for those
who brightly inspired the nation in the first months of lockdown, commending
professional and non-professional musicians alike. This year – and from now on – the
RPS will present the award outright to a non-professional ensemble or to an individual
who works with such groups, in recognition of the remarkable constellation of such
music-makers, often overlooked. A shortlist of six has been assembled by a panel who
themselves work year-round with non-professional groups and, from these, the public
is invited to vote for whom they feel should receive this year’s award.

The six shortlisted nominees are:

• Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra and Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra
• Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra, Berkshire
• Hilary Campbell and Bristol Choral Society
• Orkney Winter Choir and Orkney Camerata
• South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus
• Themba Mvula and Lichfield Gospel Choir

The closing date for votes is 11am on Thursday 30 September. To cast your vote
visit www.royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk.

The winners of all thirteen categories will be announced at the 2021 RPS Awards at
Wigmore Hall, London, at 7.30pm on Monday 1 November. The event will be
presented in a new and refreshed format that will enable more music-lovers and
music-makers to join in the festivities. Tickets will be available at a vastly reduced price
ranging from £16 – 30. As well as revealing the winners of this year’s awards, the