Derwent win RPS Award
Derwent Brass has become the first brass band to win a Royal Philharmonic Society Award. First presented in 1989 and dubbed "the biggest night in UK classical music", the RPS Inspiration Award 2024, voted for by 5,434 members of the general public, was presented to the band on an evening of celebration held at the Royal Northern College of Music. Derwent topped a short list that also included the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, The Sunday Boys, and the Glasgow Madrigirls, with all groups each receiving over 1,000 votes each.
On accepting the award, Music Director Jack Capstaff commented: "Brass bands, for all their foibles, have always been good at giving great access to music making. Derwent go one step further in trying to programme a schedule of concerts, projects, and innovative new music to be able to engage not only those within our existing brass band community, but those wider; those from diverse backgrounds that would otherwise have limited, if any, exposure to western classical music. It really is a treat to be here representing not only Derwent Brass, but also representing brass banding more generally."
Band Manager, Chris Leonard added, "We are truly grateful to everyone who supported and voted for us from both our local following and the wider banding community. To win this award means so much, not least of which has been in helping to push brass bands toward centre stage in the expansive classical music world and receiving recognition for trying to do things that bit differently."
A film of the RPS Awards presentation will be freely available to watch for one month on the RPS website from Tuesday 12th March. Further information is available at: www.royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/awards
Images copyright: Robin Clewley Photography
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