Inspiration Award
In recent years, we have introduced the RPS Inspiration Award, recognising the remarkable achievements of non-professional musical groups nationwide. Uniquely among the RPS Awards, the recipient of this one is chosen by public vote. The winners of the RPS Inspiration Award were announced at the RPS Awards on 5 March 2024 as Derwent Brass.
For years, the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards have celebrated the finest classical music-making across the UK. We recently introduced the Inspiration Award – kindly supported in 2024 by our friends at Presto Music – for a non-professional ensemble or individuals who work with such groups, in recognition of the remarkable constellation of such music-makers, often overlooked in awards such as these.
Unlike the other RPS Awards whose winners are chosen by expert independent panels, the winner of this RPS Award is fittingly chosen by the public. A shortlist of four exceptional entities was assembled by a panel who themselves work with non-professional groups and, from these, the public were invited to vote for whom they feel should receive this year’s award.
Our four shortlisted nominees in 2024 are as follows. Click each for a flavour of what makes them particularly special and what they have achieved in the last year:
We welcomed the public to vote for a favourite here on our website from early December 2023 to early February 2024, and drew the biggest number of votes we have yet received for this award.
The winners of the RPS Inspiration Award were announced at the RPS Awards on 5 March 2024 as Derwent Brass.
The 2024 RPS Inspiration Award is supported by Presto Music.
The RPS is particularly thankful to Making Music – the UK’s principal organisation supporting leisure-time music-making – for their help and insights in planning this award.
Previous recipients of the RPS Inspiration Award include Torbay Symphony Orchestra in 2023 and Hilary Campbell and Bristol Choral Society in 2021.
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