Winners of 2024 Making Music Awards announced

Annual awards celebrate leisure-time music groups and the often unrecognised talent that helps music to flourish in communities across the UK

Making Music’s annual awards ceremony celebrates the achievements of the leisure-time music community in the UK. Making Music is the UK’s leading membership organisation supporting over 4,000 leisure-time music groups. The ceremony is an opportunity to recognise the creativity, dedication, and achievements of individuals and groups within this vibrant community who often go unrecognised. 

Making Music announced the winners at an online ceremony on Wednesday 18 September. Debbie Wiseman OBE, Making Music President and an award-winning composer, presented the awards. 

Debbie Wiseman OBE, said: 

‘The standard of the entries for the 2024 Making Music Awards is as high as ever. The passion for leisure-group music-making continues to be extremely impressive, and every year the bar is raised even higher, driven by the imagination, creativity and musicianship of the winners and nominees. Many congratulations to all involved and may your excellent music-making continue into 2025 and beyond!’ 

Barbara Eifler, Making Music Chief Executive, said: 

‘We love promoting these Awards, as they prompt our members to tell us and the wider world about the interesting, thought-provoking, innovative and original activities they undertake, often far too quietly, in their communities in rural areas, in small or large towns, in cities. These shortlists and winners tell you about the immense creativity and dedication to music to be found all over the UK, which we should all know far more about.’ 

The winners and those shortlisted for each award are as follows: 

Best music creator   

Joint winners:

• John Gourlay (joint winner) for The Baptism of Adam Smith for Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society
  John Gourlay’s ambition is clear in responding to the anniversary of Adam Smith’s birth – a historically and globally significant figure from Kirkcaldy – and writing a transcendent piece that could be so excellently performed by the most appropriate ensemble – the local leisure-time orchestra.
   
• Roderick Williams (joint winner) for Sing Joyfully for Saffron Walden Choral Society
  Roderick Williams did not let his busy performance schedule prevent him from communicating extensively with the group he was composing for, and adjusting according to responses, meaning that the group is very happy with the resulting piece, which suits them very well.

Shortlisted:

• Thomas Hewitt Jones for Regards from Rochester for Rochester Choral Society
• Ian Stephenson for Take Flight for Coquet Concert Band
   

Best music arranger

Winner:

• Simon Arnott for Trip a Little Light Fantastic for Central London Barbershop Harmony Club
  Simon’s arrangement of Trip a Little Light Fantastic from Mary Poppins Returns was very clever, very expertly done, full of character, and a great piece for any close harmony singing group.

Shortlisted:

• Jordan Daniel Anderson for In Christ Alone/Tis So Sweet for Emmanu’-EL Apostolic Gospel Academy (EAGA)
• George Morton for Metropolis for Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra
   

Best new project 

Winner:

• Vox Holloway Community Choir
  Vox Holloway’s ‘Between the Bars’ documentary follows the choir’s 14-month journey developing the oratorio The Sun Does Shine, telling the true story of an innocent man’s 30-year imprisonment on death row. The project connected with the Prison Reform Trust and explored the profound impact on both the prisoners and the choir members as they navigated this challenging subject.

Shortlisted:

• Peterborough Sings!
• Sheffield Youth Orchestra
   

Making Music Green Award

Winner:

• Big Noise Chorus
  Big Noise Chorus conducted a green review to reduce their environmental impact in rehearsals, concerts, and outreach. This led to a Sustainability Action Plan, which is now reviewed at each meeting, with sustainability becoming a permanent agenda item. Each choir has a 'Green Rep' to identify improvements and communicate changes. Their commitment to sustainability is commendable and inspiring.
   

President’s Award (public vote)

Winner:

• Sue Jolley of Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir
  For over 15 years, Sue has volunteered tirelessly, securing annual sponsorships and donations to help choristers attend events at minimal cost. She balances her family and work commitments while ensuring the organisation runs smoothly behind the scenes. Sue is a remarkable and highly valued member.    

Shortlisted:

• Amanda Drury of City of Lincoln Band
• Andy Crocker of Grayshott Concerts
• Matthew Gilley of Contemporary Music for All
   

Lady Hilary Groves Prize

Winners:

• Jane Edwardson of Gay Abandon
  Jane Edwardson is a pioneer in the LGBTQ+ movement, founding Gay Abandon in 1997, the first LGBTQ+ choir in the North, during a time of low visibility and acceptance. She also made a significant impact by establishing the Space2Sing (Singing on the Edge) choir over 10 years ago, supporting people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, and addiction. Her achievements are truly impressive.

Shortlisted:

• Reginald Searle of St Neots Sinfonia
• Craig McLeish of Milton Keynes Community Choir

For more information, contact Harriet Laidler, Making Music Projects & Events Manager, at harriet@makingmusic.org.uk 

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Notes to editors

Since 1935, Making Music has championed leisure-time music groups across the UK with practical services, artistic development opportunities and by providing a collective voice for its members. We now represent over 4,000 groups of around 228,000 musicians of all types, genres and abilities. We help them run their group so they can get on with making music! makingmusic.org.uk

Debbie Wiseman
Throughout the last 30 years, there are probably few people in the UK who have not heard a theme from composer and conductor Debbie Wiseman. She has gifted film and television productions with iconic music, from Wilde and Wolf Hall to Father Brown, The Andrew Marr Show and Shakespeare & Hathaway, to name just a few. She composed music for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2023 as well as for the BBC’s TV coverage of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. She is currently Classic FM’s Composer in Residence. Find out more about Debbie Wiseman