The prize was presented onstage to Jamie Hutchinson by ABO Chief Executive Mark Pemberton, in a concert given by Oxford Philharmonic at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre.

The awarding panel, comprising leading figures working in classical music, said:

‘Through the challenges of the past year, violinist Jamie Hutchinson has brought boundless imagination and energy to her role, not only creating work for her fellow players when live concerts ground to a halt, but keeping the audience’s spirits bright when it was needed most. Straight out the gate, she kickstarted a new series of educational videos – OP at Home – for primary schoolchildren, broadly welcomed and used by teachers and parents. She wholly devoted herself to adapting the orchestra’s invaluable interactive song-writing sessions with the Mulberry Bush, a residential school for vulnerable children, ensuring they could still meaningfully engage during the most difficult months. As a third lockdown began and schools faced closure once more, she set up the OP Music Club to inspire children, reaching 150 children weekly, helping relieve the pressure that teachers and parents were facing. She has quite simply been an inspiration to fellow players and audiences.

Also commended was viola player Amy Thomas from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. In CBSO’s centenary year, she was been a bright, driving force across their digital platforms and social media, devising and presenting a range of content to engage audiences and – through this – help ensure she and her fellow players retained a sense of purpose while they could not perform in the usual way.