Making Music and Classic FM announce winners of Britain’s Big Platinum Performance

Seven leisure-time music groups from across the UK have been announced as winners of Britain’s Big Platinum Performance – a nationwide search to showcase some of the country's best music groups. 

As part of Classic FM’s 30th birthday celebrations and to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Making Music – the UK’s membership organisation for leisure-time music – teamed up with the UK’s most popular classical music station to champion hobby musicians and celebrate everyday music making across the UK. 

In March, leisure-time music groups of all types and genres were invited to submit audio recordings of an uplifting, celebratory piece of music. Following thousands of entries, seven music groups were chosen – one of each decade of The Queen’s reign – who then had their performances professionally recorded for broadcast on Classic FM. The performances will also feature on a special recording that will be gifted to Her Majesty The Queen later this year. 

A wide range of music groups, from brass and wind orchestras to choral and chamber groups, submitted recordings of their performances. They were judged on skill, musicality and choice of repertoire by an esteemed panel of musical experts, including Making Music President and composer Debbie Wiseman OBE, Classic FM presenter Myleene Klass, composers Paul Mealor and Ken Burton, and musician Carol Jarvis. 

The winners of Britain’s Big Platinum Performance are: 

• Carme Ensemble (Northern Ireland) 
• Curzon Brass 
• Fulham Brass Band  
• Birmingham Symphonic Wind  
• East London Brass  
• London Welsh Male Voice Choir  
• Carluke Primrose Orchestral Flutes (South Lanarkshire)

Making Music’s Chief Executive, Barbara Eifler, said:

"The impressive variety of celebratory music submitted for Britain’s Big Platinum Performance is a fine testament to the vibrancy and richness of the UK’s leisure-time music scene. The contribution of hobby musicians to their communities is a vital part of the nation’s musical ecology, and we’re thrilled to have teamed up with Classic FM to showcase just some of these outstanding groups to millions of listeners, as well as presenting Her Majesty with her very own recording of the music.”

Classic FM’s Managing Editor, Philip Noyce, said:  

“As we celebrate Classic FM’s 30th anniversary and to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, we are excited to showcase some of the nation’s hugely talented, non-professional music groups with Britain’s Big Platinum Performance. Along with Making Music, we are thrilled to announce our deserved winners, and we are looking forward to shining the spotlight on these exceptional groups, as well as introducing them to the millions of listeners on Classic FM."
 

Classic FM is available across the UK on 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, on Global Player on your smart speaker (“play Classic FM”), iOS or Android device and at ClassicFM.com.

Media enquiries | Classic FM comms team:

John Chittenden, Senior Publicity Manager | 07557 157113 | john.chittenden@global.com
Molly Bolton, Publicity Manager | 07732 659617 | molly.bolton@global.com

---ENDS---

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www.makingmusic.org.uk

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Making Music, The National Federation of Music Societies
A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales no. 308632
Registered Charity in England and Wales no. 249219 and in Scotland no. SC038849

Notes to editors

About Making Music

Making Music has championed leisure-time music groups since 1935 across the UK with practical services, artistic development opportunities and by providing a collective voice for its members. We represent over 3,800 plus groups made up of around 220,000 musicians of all types, genres and abilities. We help them run their groups so they can get on with making music! www.makingmusic.org.uk

About Classic FM

Classic FM is the UK’s most popular classical music brand, reaching 5.1 million listeners every week. Classic FM’s programmes are hosted by a mix of classical music experts and household names including Alexander Armstrong, Moira Stuart, John Suchet, Myleene Klass, Margherita Taylor, Bill Turnbull, Alan Titchmarsh, John Humphrys, Charlotte Hawkins and Aled Jones. Since its launch in 1992, Classic FM has aimed to make classical music accessible and relevant to everyone and in doing so, introduce an entirely new audience to the genre. ClassicFM.com is the UK’s biggest classical music website and has 3.5 million unique monthly web and app users. Classic FM is owned by Global. It is available across the UK on 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, on Global Player on your smart speaker, iOS or Android device and at ClassicFM.com. Source: RAJAR / Ipsos-MORI / RSMB Q4 2021.

About Global

Global is one of the world’s leading Media & Entertainment groups. It is Europe’s largest radio company and one of the leading Outdoor companies in both the UK & Europe. Global is home to respected, national, market leading media brands including Capital, Heart, Classic FM, LBC, Global’s Newsroom, Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA, Gold and Global Player, which allows listeners to enjoy all of Global’s radio brands, award-winning podcasts, and expertly-curated playlists, in one place in app, on web and on smart speakers.

With an extensive and diverse portfolio, Global is also the leading Outdoor company in the UK & one of the largest in Europe with over 235,000 sites reaching 95% of the UK population.

On-air, on Global Player and with our outdoor platforms combined, Global reaches 51 million individuals across the UK every week, including 25.8 million on the radio alone. 

Global created and operates DAX, the market leader in Digital audio advertising. Through its proprietary technology, DAX connects advertisers with an audience of more than 130 million people worldwide, inserting targeted advertising into music streaming services, connected radio listening and podcasts in the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada.  DAX is the largest digital audio advertising platform in the UK and one of the largest in the world.

The company headquarters is in London’s iconic Leicester Square. Ashley Tabor-King OBE is Founder & Executive President, Stephen Miron is Group CEO, Lord Allen is Chairman and James Rea is Director of Broadcasting and Content. Ashley Tabor-King created Global in 2007. www.global.com @global