Janet Fulton, Principal Percussionist of Manchester Camerata, has been awarded the prestigious Salomon Prize, presented by the Royal Philharmonic Society and Association of British Orchestras.

By RPS Composer Grace-Evangeline Mason

Discovering conducting mid-career transformed Helen Thomas' approach to making music. In this week's blog, she writes about how conducting opened doors for her, her new ensemble partnership, and her work for women in music.

Life's been full of surprises for composer Daniel Fardon since his Wigmore Hall Apprenticeship took off. He's immersed himself in their Learning Department and written sketches for an art installation, working with the Bloomsbury Quartet who'll perform his commission in July. Find out what he's been up to in our latest blog...

Acclaimed composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim has been made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in recognition of his outstanding services to music.

Three years ago, Olivia Clarke caught the conducting bug at one of our Women Conductors courses, after just ten minutes conducting a string quartet. She writes here about the challenges and rewards of conducting, and the solidarity she's found from meeting other female musicians experiencing the same struggles as her own.

We are pleased to announce two significant new short courses as part of our thriving Women Conductors programme which aims to address gender inequality on the conducting podium.

Fiona Robertson, Director of the acclaimed Scottish new music organisation sound, is to be awarded the prestigious Leslie Boosey Award by the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Bassoonist Ashby Mayes, who received a £3,000 grant from the RPS to help purchase a new bassoon, spent a year searching and fundraising for his instrument. He writes about how he did it, the cities he visited, and what he learned along the way.

As long as there has been music, there has been dance. The Royal Philharmonic Society is inviting artists and practitioners in dance and music to join forces and think big, as we present substantial new funds to help fuel bright ideas.

What makes the bassoon a special instrument? How can we increase awareness of it among younger musicians and the wider public? Izabela Musial, winner of the inaugural RPS Allianz Prize and one of our newest young artists, answers these questions and more in this interview. Read on to learn about her personal story with the bassoon, and what she hopes to achieve as our advocate for the instrument.

21-year-old Phoebe Manley discovered her passion for orchestral conducting during high school and has never left the podium since. She was one of 10 participants on our Women Conductors workshop in Cardiff last December, and a recipient of an ABRSM bursary. Read about her conducting journey, and what she learned from Alice Farnham and Alma Sheehan on the Phase 1 workshop weekend.