Making Music, the UK’s membership organisation for leisure-time music groups, has announced the winners of the 2023 Making Music Awards. They celebrate music creators, arrangers, community groups, their volunteers and new projects. The awards were presented by Debbie Wiseman OBE, composer and Making Music President, at an online ceremony on Thursday 5 October. 

Best music creator for leisure-time music group 

Winner: Richard Blackford for his cantata for choir and orchestra, Babel, written for Camden Choir’s 50^thanniversary.

Runner-up: Ashley Thompson for her choral work, The Queen’s Shoulders, written for the Phoenix Singers.

Shortlisted: Kirby Spencer 

Best arranger for leisure-time music group 

Winner: Fran Carter for her arrangement of the Harry Styles song, Treat People with Kindness for the Vocal Dimension Chorus.

Shortlisted: Christopher Killerby, Harry Castle

Best project with a focus on new music 

Winner: The GSA Choir for the Composeher project which commissioned 7 new choral works by female composers.

Shortlisted: Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus  

Lady Hilary Groves Prize

Winner: Christopher Green, who has been artistic director and principal conductor of the Trianon Music Group for its entire 64 years.

Shortlisted: Gwyn L Williams, Peter Morris  

Making Music Green Award 

Winner: Derwent Brass, a Derbyshire-based band that have brought in six sustainability pledges.

Runner-up: Maldon Orchestra 

Shortlisted: KJV Community Children's Choir, Sheffield Brass Network  

President's Award (winner decided by public vote) 

Winner: Brian Woodley, who has been a member of the Blackheath Choir for over 40 years.

Shortlisted: Daniel Friesner of Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival, Nikki Lord of Bolton Symphony Orchestra and Sebastian Valentine of Blue Light Symphony 

More information can be found on the Making Music website here.