UK industry figures gathered at the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence on Friday to celebrate the achievements of music education professionals.
Vivienne Price, the founder of the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain, and Christine Crowshaw, a pianist and experienced music coach, both received Lifetime Achievement Awards at the ceremony, which took place at the Barbican in London.
Price formed the NCO in 1978, when she identified the need for a symphony orchestra for talented children under 14-years-old.
The judging panel said: ‘Vivienne Price’s legacy is plain to see and hear – in its 35-year history, the National Children’s Orchestras has been a beacon of aspiration, benefitting thousands of children, including many of today’s top performers.
‘Her tireless tutelage continues to pay dividends in concert halls across the country and abroad, and her achievement in founding the organisation and ensuring its continued growth cannot be underestimated.’
Opera North won the award for Best Music Education Initiative for In Harmony, an Arts Council-funded scheme which provided students at a Yorkshire primary school access to high-quality music tuition.
Aldeburgh Music’s Friday Afternoons project took the award for Best Digital/Technological Resource. The initiative tied in with Benjamin Britten’s centenary, and encouraged singing activities in schools throughout the UK using online resources.
The full list of winners can be found here.
The Music Teacher Awards for Excellence are hosted by the Music Education Expo, the UK’s largest conference and exhibition for music teachers. This year’s event took place on 7-8 February.
Image: Vivienne Price receives the Lifetime Achievement Award with Mark Rasmussen, Thomas Lydon and Margherita Taylor © Ceri Wood Photography