Chorus diversity work celebrated at the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Award evening
Wednesday 6 March 2024
Representatives from the Chorus had a marvellous time at the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards evening, held on Tuesday 5 March at the Royal Northern School of Music in Manchester. The Chorus had been nominated for a Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Inspiration Award sponsored by Presto Music – widely regarded as the BAFTAS of the classical music world and a sought-after achievement by both amateur and professional musicians.
“Sadly the Chorus didn’t win” said Chorus president Rachel Copley, “but it was wonderful to see our names up on the huge screen, and film of us performing the winning works from our ground-breaking Young Composer Competition in the City Hall. Classical Sheffield’s Festival Weekend was blazoned up there for all to see, fantastic recognition of our collaboration with colleagues from Sheffield orchestras and choirs at the performance of Mahler’s second symphony for the finale concert“
Recently introduced into the awards list, the ‘Inspiration Award’ is for a non-professional ensemble or individual who works with such groups, in recognition of the remarkable constellation of such music-makers. Described by The Sunday Times as ‘the biggest night in UK classical music’, the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards are classical music’s annual good news story, shining much-needed light on inspirational individuals, groups and initiatives whose music has lifted hearts and minds across the nation.
The Chorus was delighted to have been shortlisted out of an outstanding pool of groups and music-makers, and thrilled that the winners were Derwent Brass based in Belper in Derbyshire. “We work regularly with the fantastic Black Dyke Band‘ explained Chorus Chair Joanne Briddock, “So we have a real affinity with brass band music and although it would have been great to win, we were thrilled to be pipped to the post by this innovative band”.
The nomination celebrates the choir’s efforts to increase diversity and its support for young musicians, in particular the Stella Jockel Young Composer Competition, which was brought to life at the finale of the Classical Sheffield Festival Weekend 2023. The competition, in its inaugural year, attracted fourteen high-quality pieces of music to be judged by a panel of experts, including conductor and composer George Nicholson, Emeritus Professor of Composition at the University of Sheffield. Two of the shortlisted candidates won the top prize, and received their prizes from the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Sioned-Mair Richards.
The text for the competition was set by award-winning Sheffield poet Katherine Towers, and it encouraged the young composers to think outside the box when writing their pieces. Joint winners Mason Birch and James Thomas wowed the judges and the 1400-strong audience at Sheffield City Hall with their talent and fine ear for composition. The competition was set up in memory of former SPC member Stella Jockel, who supported young musicians throughout her life, using part of a generous legacy left to the Chorus when she passed in 2020.
Read about the Chorus nomination
Read more about the Awards including the 2024 winners
Previous News Items
06 March 2024 Chorus diversity work celebrated at the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Award evening
12 December 2023 Chorus nominated for prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award
15 November 2023 Chorus record with Black Dyke Band
30 October 2023 Two more world premieres!
27 September 2023 Chorus project shortlisted for Making Music Award
26 September 2023 Mahler 2 in Monte Carlo
27 January 2023 Chorus announces competition shortlist
2022
10 November 2022 CLASSICAL MUSIC: Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus Launches Competition
01 November 2022 CLASSICAL SHEFFIELD: Exciting Competition for Young Composers
31 October 2022 RMCMEDIA: Local Choir Launches New Competition For Young Composers
28 Oct 2022 Chorus launches new competition for young composers
11 June 2022 Belshazzar’s Feast a tremendous wall of sound – SHEFFIELKD TELEGRAPG REVIEW
22 April 2022 Chorus hosts French and German singers
16 April 2022 BRITISH BANDSMAN: Black Dyke set for choral collaboration
02 April 4BARSREST: European links for Messiah
29 March 2022 Chorus welcome French and German visitors
14 March 2022 Chorus collect almost £2,000 for Ukraine Appeal
05 March 2022 Russian concert in aid of Ukraine
2020
Tuesday 15 December 2020 ‘Tis the season…..
20 October 2020 Chorus CD tops the charts!
21 July 2020 Music Director gives on-line recital for Yorkshire Day
6 July 2020 Music Director’s beautiful Messiah arrangement
28 June 2020 Chorus starts on-line rehearsals
18 June 2020 Music Director joins choral greats in highlighting challenges faced by choirs
16 June 2020 The Guardian – Covid-19 has silenced choirs
18 May 2020 Chorus supports its locked-down musicians
23 March 2020 Concerts postponed and rehearsals cancelled
2 February 2020 Chorus to sing Messiah with French and German visitors
2019
17 December 2019 REVIEW: Sheffield’s Christmas concert tradition
16 December 2019 Carol wins Classic FM competition
15 December 2019 Sheffield Telegraph – Chorus in finals of national carol competition
14 November 2019 REVIEW – ‘Beautifully and intricately rendered by the choir’
8 November 2019 Bring a Man Night
2 November 2019 Chorus to present Bochum gift to Lord Mayor
23 Sept 2019 Chorus kick off BBC Music Day on Fargate
12 June 2019 REVIEW Holy Face Sheffield Telegraph
07 April 2019 Bach’s compendium; SPC /Royal Northern Sinfonia, City Hall
1 Feb 2019 Chorus members sing Messiah in Germany
2018
28 Dec New Year’s Honour for local choir President
6 Dec 2018 Excellent programme from the Chorus
26 Oct 2018 Composer thrilled with recording
28 July 2018 Yorkshire Post celebrates publication of 1911 World Tour Book
23 July 2018 Chorus members sing in France during World Cup
20 July 2018 Tour de France for Sheffield Choir
03 July 2018 Chorus prepares to deliver French mini tour
14 June 2018 Up Close and Personal
11 June 2018 Audience thrilled by Rossini and original Mustel harmonium
31 May 2018 Chorus and harmonium in perfect harmony
11 May 2018 ‘Outstanding’ – Chorus ends Mahler tour on high note
30 April 2018 Review: Bruckner Orchester Linz, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, four stars
30 April 2018 Chorus sing a ‘blazing’ Mahler 2 in Edinburgh
29 April 2018 ‘Assertive Mahler’ Simon Thompson, Seen and Heard International
12 Feb 2018 Chorus sings with Sheffield mezzo soprano
3 Feb 2018 World premiere ‘an emotive journey’
12 Jan 2018 Chorus on journey to Paradise
2017
11 Dec 2017 Calypso Carol on Classic FM
15 Oct 2017 Composer thrilled with premiere of his new work
3 July 2017 Chorus records new CD
6 April 2017 Stairs? No problem!
24 April 2017 Open Letter from the Chair: The relevance of classical music.
20 March 2017 It’s a fact – Singing is good for you!
pre-2016
16 May 2016 140th birthday celebrations
16 Feb 2016 What’s your ‘Fantasy Concert’?
18 Oct 2015 Sisters Steal Away
18 Feb 2013 Rachmaninov – will Chorus be reaching for the vodka?
8 Oct 2012 Free choral workshops and a welcome return for Handel’s Messiah
8 Aug 2012 Free choral workshops and a year full of singing
17 June 2012 Olympic Dreams – Will it be Singin’ in The Rain or Mr Blue Skies?
16 Apr 2012 Contemporary composers take centre stage
16 Apr 2012 New community links in Sheffield
3 April 2012 Bronte Mass ‘impressive’
12 Feb 2012 Alight: Eclectic music lines up to take centre stage as part of the Cultural Olympiad
13 Jan 2012 Scaling The Heights – Singclude Breaks Down Barriers For Disabled Singers
24 Feb 2011 Three-fold choral debut
22 Nov 2010 Songs of Praise – Chorus celebrate 75th Anniversary year with audience of over 2 million
</a=””>