Every autumn, our additional issue of Gramophone is devoted to our annual Awards. Throughout our 38-page special section, you will find the finest writers on classical music today reflecting on what makes this year’s winners so impressive, whether they be recently released albums, or young artists celebrated for their innovative approach to music-making in the modern world, or formidable figures whose lifelong contribution to classical music has left a legacy that will continue to inspire and delight for generations to come. I shan’t spoil the delight of discovery – to find out who has won, pick up the latest issue and turn to the coverage itself, introduced by our Editor-in-Chief James Jolly who masterminds the Awards each year. And once you’ve read our coverage, why not log on to Medici.tv, where you can watch the full film of James hosting the ceremony itself: two hours of celebrating the finest artists, complete with some wonderful musical-making too.

This Medici.tv stream of the Awards is just one of the ways in which you can encounter and enjoy Gramophone beyond holding the magazine in your hands (and please bear with me if you’re a long-standing subscriber and have read this before!). Our website, read by hundreds of thousands of readers around the world, contains all you need to further your exploration of classical music, allowing you to hear directly from artists through interviews or guest blogs, and to develop and refine your collection through our listening guides and reviews. You can also sign up to our weekly newsletter, packed with the latest news, videos, features and, of course, reviews.

Meanwhile, our weekly podcasts offer an even more direct way to hear from artists: most weeks we interview a leading musician, whether a household name or one of today’s most thrilling new artists who’s shaping the way we think about music; other times, you might find a conversation between some of the Gramophone team and its extended family. Either way, why not subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts (just search for ‘Gramophone Magazine’), and let us know what you think.

And it’s not just your opinion on podcasts that we’re interested in, either. I hugely enjoy hearing from readers: it’s good to know when we’ve got it right, but it’s just as useful to know when we should be doing something differently. The best magazines should be a dialogue, and your comments and ideas are always read by us, and help us shape and form Gramophone. The most traditional means of hearing from our readers, of course, is through our letters pages, offering you a chance to contribute to the knowledge and expertly held opinion we share with our readership (and, I dare say, correct any errors!). From the Awards issue onwards, there’s a fabulous new prize for our Letter of the Month courtesy of Raymond Weil watches. So if you’ve a fascinating, thought-provoking point to make, what better incentive can there be for not keeping it to yourself!

Perhaps you could even let us know what you think of this year’s winners. I’ve enjoyed immensely getting to know these albums over the past year or so, and I hope you will too.

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