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The University of Southampton
Humanities

Turner Sims for RPS Music Award

Published: 15 April 2013Origin: Music
Turner Sims Concert Hall

Turner Sims’ Southampton’s Musical Alphabet project has been shortlisted for the RPS Music Award for Audiences and Engagement.

The shortlist for the awards was announced on the Thursday 11 April edition of BBC Radio 3’s In Tune programme. The shortlist adds to Turner Sims
recent achievements, having been named as one of the UK’s top 10 chamber music venues by Classical Music Magazine in July 2012 and Kevin Appleby, Concert Hall Manager at Turner Sims being named as Concert Hall Manager of the Year at January’s ABO/Rhinegold Awards.

Southampton's Musical Alphabet (SMA) - devised and coordinated by Turner Sims - was Southampton’s contribution to the UK-wide Music Nation weekend, one of a select group of "countdown" events for the London 2012 Festival. It took place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 March 2012. Devised and produced by Turner Sims (TS) SMA had one overriding aim: to celebrate through music the international dimension of the Games in a hugely diverse city. The 26-hour extravaganza ran from 10am-10pm on each day, launching a new letter of the alphabet in each hour (A for African drumming, B for bellringing etc) and featured concerts, workshops, drop-in sessions and participatory activity. 52 events took place over the
weekend in 23 venues and unusual locations across the city. More than 500 performers were involved ranging from internationally renowned soloists (including violinist Chloë Hanslip, who performed with Southampton Youth Orchestra, pianist Julian Joseph, and the Brodsky Quartet) to semi-professionals, amateurs and local children. The wide range of music, chamber to orchestral, jazz, world and folk, included three world premieres: a fanfare for marching band to open the weekend; a song for children’s choir composed by a student from Solent University in response to a specially devised competition; and a work for massed saxophones and percussion composed by saxophonist Rob Buckland from the Equivox Trio.

The annual RPS Music Awards, presented in association with BBC Radio 3, are the highest recognition for live classical music in the UK. Awards, in thirteen categories, are decided by independent panels consisting of some of the music industry’s most distinguished practitioners. The awards honour musicians, composers, writers, broadcasters and inspirational arts organisations. The list of previous winners reads like a Who’s Who of
classical music. This year’s RPS Music Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in 2012. RPS Music Award winners will be announced at the awards dinner at The Dorchester in London on Tuesday 14 May.

Kevin Appleby, Concert Hall Manager at Turner Sims says “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for this award. It is great recognition for the huge amount of effort that all those involved put in to making the event such a huge celebration across the city.”

Southampton’s Musical Alphabet was coordinated by Turner Sims, in association with Southampton City Council, Art at the Heart, and Arts Council England.

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