Streetwise Opera wins prestigious Impact Award, while The Pink Singers and Wolverhampton Symphony Orchestra were amongst the shortlisted nominees for the Inspiration Award at the 2025 RPS Awards.
The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Awards, held on Thursday, 6 March, at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, once again shone a spotlight on the transformative power of classical music. Recognising the finest musicians, ensembles, and creatives, the awards celebrate the vital role music plays in our lives.
This year was particularly special for the leisure-time music community, with several Making Music members receiving well-deserved recognition.
We are thrilled to announce that Streetwise Opera, a valued Making Music member, took home the Impact Award for their Re:Discover Festival – a groundbreaking initiative celebrating African and Caribbean heritage and empowering people affected by homelessness through music-making. Taking place across Nottingham, Manchester, and London, the festival helped participants build life skills, self-worth, and confidence through creative expression. This well-deserved win highlights the profound impact of inclusive music projects.
The much-anticipated Inspiration Award, which honours non-professional and volunteer-run music groups or individuals who work with such groups, is unique in that the winner is chosen by public vote. This year, we were delighted to see two out of the four nominees are Making Music members:
- The Pink Singers – Europe’s oldest LGBTQ+ community choir, dedicated to spreading love and music within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community.
- Wolverhampton Symphony Orchestra – A group committed to bringing classical music to diverse audiences while providing invaluable opportunities for young musicians.
A huge congratulations to both groups and to the winner of the award – Open Arts Community Choir from Belfast, uniting disabled and non-disabled people from different backgrounds.
A special mention goes to Paraorchestra, the world’s first large-scale professional ensemble comprising virtuoso disabled and non-disabled musicians, which received the Ensemble Award of the night. Making Music has previously celebrated the contributions of Charles Hazlewood, conductor and founder of Paraorchestra, with our biennial Sir Charles Groves Award in 2023. It’s inspiring to see continued recognition for groups breaking down barriers in the music world.
To see the full list of winners and nominees, visit the RPS website:
• royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps_today/news/2025-rps-awards-winners-announced
• royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps_today/news/2025-rps-awards-shortlists-announced
