We are thrilled to announce the shortlisted nominees for the 2022 Making Music Awards, followed by a celebratory evening on 22 September where we announce the winners and honour the creativity and efforts of the leisure-time music community.
The awards celebrate Making Music's 3,900 member groups and their activity, and the often unrecognised talent which helps the sector to flourish across the UK. Prizes range from promotion across Making Music’s networks to financial support towards commissions and other musical projects
The shortlists and winners are decided by panels of experts drawn from across the music sector. The winner for Group Hero will be chosen by public vote. You can choose from a shortlist of four nominees selected by Making Music staff.
All awards will be announced by Making Music President Debbie Wiseman OBE at the Making Music Awards ceremony on 22 September. Anyone is welcome to reserve a ticket to attend the awards.
2022 Making Music Awards full shortlist:
Best music creator for leisure-time music group
- Finn Anderson – Distant Dream, for The Sunday Boys
- Nathan James Dearden – i breathe, for National Youth Choirs of Great Britain
- Joanna Forbes L’Estrange and Alexander L’Estrange – Sing, Sing, Sing!, for Scunthorpe and District Choral Society
Highly commended: John C Hayes – Wensleydale March, for Lymm Concert Band; Paul Ayres – Reasons for Singing, for Concordia Voices.
Best arranger for leisure-time music group
- George Morton – five pieces including The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Scheherazade, William Tell Overture, for Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra
- Michael Betteridge – Urge for Going, for The Sunday Boys
- Peter Davis – two extracts from William Hamilton Bird’s Oriental Miscellany, for Street Orchestra Live
Panel for best music creator and best arranger: Debbie Wiseman OBE (Making Music President); Dorothy Wilson MBE (Making Music Chair); Russell Keable (Music Director, Kensington Symphony Orchestra); Sally Groves (former Creative Director of Schott Music).
Best project with a focus on new music
- Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra
- Haddo Arts
- The Sunday Boys
Panel for best project with a focus on new music: Dorothy Wilson MBE (Making Music Chair); Clare Edwards (Director of Learning & Events, Young Voices); Emma Campbell (Music Officer, Creative Scotland); Graeme Wilson (Music Director, Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society).
Best music director
- Chris Parsons, Bury St Edmunds Friendly Orchestra
- Stephen Marshall, Crickhowell Choral Society
- Thomas Leech, Bradford Festival Choral Society
Highly commended: Melanie Le Breuilly, Reading Youth Orchestra
Panel for best music director: Martyn Brabbins (Music Director, English National Opera); Dorothy Wilson MBE (Making Music Chair); Derek Harrison (Music Director, Knebworth Community Chorus).
Group hero – shortlist for public vote
- Bradford Festival Choral Society team, Bradford Festival Choral Society
- Musicians in Exile, The Glasgow Barons
- Ben Baughan, The Sunday Boys
- Nigel Britten and Sally Moran, Beckenham Chorale
The public vote for group hero has now closed.
Making Music presents numerous awards, bursaries and prizes to individuals, music groups and organisations in both the leisure-time and professional music sectors. Find out more
