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The University of Southampton
Humanities

Music at Southampton shortlisted for top awards

Published: 18 April 2013Origin: Music
Music at Southampton

Music at the University of Southampton features in several shortlists for honours at this year’s RPS (Royal Philharmonic Society) Music Awards, which will be announced at the awards dinner at the Dorchester in London on Tuesday 14 May.

The Turner Sims Concert Hall’s Southampton’s Musical Alphabet project is a finalist for Audiences and Engagement award. This was the city’s contribution to the UK-wide Music Nation weekend, one of a select group of "countdown" events for the London 2012 Festival.

The 26-hour weekend extravaganza ran from 10.00am-10.00pm each day, launching a new letter of the alphabet in each hour (A for African drumming, B for bell-ringing etc) and featured concerts, workshops, drop-in and interactive sessions. In all, 52 events took place in 23 venues and unusual locations across the city, with more than 500 performers. They ranged from internationally renowned soloists such as violinist Chloë Hanslip (who performed with Southampton Youth Orchestra), pianist Julian Joseph, and the Brodsky Quartet to semi-professionals, amateurs and local children.

“We are thrilled to be shortlisted for this award,” says Concert Hall Manager Kevin Appleby. “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.”

The Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment's project Anthem for a Child, which was led at the University of Southampton by Elizabeth Kenny and implemented with the help of students from Music, has also been nominated for an RPS award.

In addition, two Southampton PhD graduates have made the shortlists. They are Tom Service from BBC Radio 3 for Creative Communication and James Weeks, director of Exaudi, for Chamber Music and Song.

The annual RPS Music Awards, presented in association with BBC Radio 3, are the highest recognition for live classical music in the UK. Independent panels consisting of some of the music industry’s most distinguished practitioners decide on the winners. The awards honour musicians, composers, writers, broadcasters and inspirational arts organisations.

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