Presented by our President, Debbie Wiseman OBE, this award goes to a volunteer or group of volunteers (e.g. a committee) who have given exceptional service to a Making Music member group, either in the short or long term. Making Music members nominate, and the winner is chosen by public vote.

This award, decided by a panel including past winners, Making Music trustees and music professionals, goes to individuals from a Making Music member group who have made a noticeable difference to the musical life of their local community. Often, they are music professionals leading one or more leisure-time vocal or instrumental groups, or amateur promoters programming professional performances in their area. Making Music members nominate or put themselves forward.

This award, judged by a panel of music professionals, goes to a music creator, nominated by a Making Music member group, for creating a new piece for a group in the preceding 12 months. The winner is chosen both for the musical quality of their piece and for their ability to collaborate and create a work suited to the character and technical ability of the group.

This award, judged by a panel of music professionals, goes to an arranger, nominated by a Making Music member group, for arranging a piece for a group in the preceding 12 months. The winner is chosen both for the musical quality of their arrangement (including in relation to the original piece) and for their ability to produce a work which suits the character and technical ability of the group.

This award highlights projects involving new music (written since 2000). The winner (Making Music member groups put themselves forward) could be anything from a Christmas carol competition (Bristol Choral Society 2021), to a commission of three pieces from LGBTQ+ composers for The Sunday Boys to take part in Manchester’s Festival of Light (2022), or a schools composition project which saw a member group play young composers’ pieces (Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society, 2020). Judged by a panel of expert professionals.

This new award will go to a Making Music member group which is judged by a panel of relevant professionals to have embraced environmental action either for their own group or by spreading the word (musically or in other ways) in their communities.

This prize recognises the outstanding contribution that an individual or organisation has made to the musical life of the UK and is awarded by the Making Music Board of Trustees every two years. Read about our illustrious past winners.

The theme for the first award in this category in 2025 was ‘an interesting performance location’. The panel was looking for images that captured the energy of a group in a unique setting — no professional skills required, just creativity!

This award is for a group that has shown an outstanding commitment to programming a diverse range of music. The theme for the first award in this category in 2025 was ‘non-male composer’.