BBE 2023 Award Winners
BBE has revealed the winners of this year’s Brass Bands England Awards. The awards recognise individuals and organisations that have made an exceptional contribution to the world of brass banding. The Awards were presented during a special ceremony on Saturday 7 October, at this year’s sold-out Brass Band Conference, held at the University of Huddersfield. Awards were presented, with thanks, by their sponsoring organisations mentioned below, along with the conference day keynote speaker, Gavin Higgins.
Winners:
Band Project of the Year, supported by rooms4groups: ‘Bandamonium’, by Hatherleigh Silver Band
Brass Band Conductor Award, supported by the Brass Band Conductors Association: Louise Renshaw, Macclesfield Youth Band
Outstanding Contribution Award, supported by World of Brass: Ann Headworth
Young Bandsperson Award, supported by ABRSM: Elise Hale
Services to Youth Award: Graham Helm
Lifetime Achievement Award: Phillip McCann
Mike Kilroy, Chair of BBE, commented, “On behalf of Brass Bands England, I was delighted to have the honour of announcing the winners of this year’s Brass Bands England Awards. From inspiring individuals supporting young people, to an array of community-based projects, it’s been fantastic to see what our community has been up to and the impressive outcomes it has achieved.”
Engagement with the Awards has grown each year, and 2023 saw a record number of nominations. From these nominations, for the first time, a shortlist was formed and judged by a panel of experts from across the sector. The exception was Band Project of the Year, which went to a new public vote, seeing over 1,000 votes cast. Mike added, “The Band Project of the Year Award is here to stay! A true reflection of the passion the banding community has for innovation, it’s been great to see so many votes from those eager to show support for projects they enjoyed participating in."
Maria Turley Alterton, Managing Director of rooms4groups who sponsored the Band Project of the Year Award, commented, “We have been working with many bands across the country for a number of years and we are proud to continue our partnership with Brass Bands England, and to support the banding community by sponsoring this award. It’s been fantastic to see the innovative and exciting projects from all of the bands who entered. Myself and the team at rooms4 groups would like to send our warm wishes to all the bands who took part in the awards, and send our congratulations to the winners.”
On Phillip McCann’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Mike commented, “It was a real honour to present this award to someone who has contributed so much to the banding community. Phillip’s achievements and contributions to brass bands and the broader arts and culture community are wide ranging and exceptional in their impact and quality. I have had the pleasure of knowing Phillip for over 50 years. We have played in bands together, taught together, raised money for charity together and during that time my admiration and respect for him has grown year on year. Phillip has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in everything he does, as a player, as a conductor, as an adjudicator and as a teacher. His dedication and determination to be the best, whilst encouraging others to do so is exemplary. It has, I am sure, also been quite helpful for him to be blessed with exceptional god given talent.”
Do you know an individual or organisation doing fantastic work in the banding community? Nominations for the next Brass Bands England Awards will open in early 2024. To be the first to know and receive a link to the nomination form, join the BBE mailing list: https://www.bbe.org.uk/user/register To find out more and see the previous winners, visit the Brass Bands England Awards page: https://www.bbe.org.uk/awards
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