The shortlists for 14 categories in the Music & Drama Education Awards 2024 have been announced, revealing those in the running to take home an award at the ceremony in February next year.
Run annually by Music Teacher and Drama & Theatre magazines, the Awards celebrate the work and initiatives of schools, organisations, charities and individuals in both music and drama education.
The Awards also includes a new category this year celebrating an Outstanding Music Education Print Resource.
The judging panel is made up of prominent figures in music and drama education, including winners of previous year’s awards.
For music and the cross-over categories, the judges are: Phil Croydon (chair), Alison Mears, Benjamin Turner, Michael Pearce, Nathaniel Dye, Ruth McPherson and Rachel Hawker (the latter for The Rocksteady Award only).
Meet the judges here.
Bringing the sector together in challenging times, the ceremony will feature live performances, a drinks reception, and a three-course dinner.
The shortlisted entries in music and the cross-over categories are as follows:
Rocksteady Award for Progressive and Inclusive Music Education
- Aspire, Amasing
- Hope Creative, Bristol Beacon
- Inspire, Live Music Now
- Intergenerational Music Sessions, Live The Beat
- Sounds Virtual, Soundabout
- Learn to Play, Olympias Music Foundation
Outstanding Music Education Resource (sponsored by Casio)
- Aurora Classroom
- ChoirMaker, Ex Cathedra
- Primary Singing Toolkit, ISM Trust/Voices Foundation
- Teaching Notes podcast, Music Teachers' Association
- YuStudio, Charanga
Outstanding Musical Initiative (sponsored by the Royal Marines Band Service)
- Ark Music, Ark Schools
- Earthsong Programme, Bristol Beacon/Earthsong Foundation
- Learn To Play, Olympias Music Foundation
- Orchestras for All
- The King’s Coronation Bandstand, Music for Youth
- The OAE at Acland Burghley School
Outstanding School Music Department (sponsored by the Music Teachers' Association)
- Yealmpstone Farm Primary
- Tattershall Primary
- School21, Stratford
- Formby High School
- Bishop Wordsworth's School
- St John Rigby College
- Loughborough Schools Foundation
Outstanding Music Education Print Resource
- A Young Person’s Guide to Vocal Health, Compton
- Don't Fear the Horn, Richard Steggall
- How to Make Your Choir Sound Awesome, Banks Music
- Instant Primary Music Lessons, Rhinegold Education
- Slap Djembe, Percussion Plus
- Violin Junior Series, Schott Music
- Where Are All The Instruments? West Africa, Nathan Holder
Instrumental or Vocal Teacher of the Year
- Cathy Laney
- Eleanor Diack
- Niall Oates
- Sandie Williams
Francesca Hanley Inspiration Award (sponsored by the Musicians’ Union)
- Carl Smith
- Jayne Barnes
- Jayne Smith
- Kat Penn
- Rachael Borman
Excellence in SEND (Music and Drama)
- Awards and Certificates in Musical Development, Trinity College London
- Count Me In!, Youth Music, Univ. of Roehampton and Services For Education
- Creative Music Nurture Groups, Hertfordshire Music Service
- Inspire, Live Music Now
- UpRising Balloon, Music Education Hubs East Midlands
- Sounds Wild, Soundabout
Excellence in Musical Theatre (Music and Drama)
- A Summer in Ruins, A Place for Us CIC
- CAPA Juniors, Trinity Academy Cathedral
- Rhymes LIVE!, London Rhymes
- Starcast Performing Arts schools in Salisbury and Fordingbridge
- Theatre Peckham
Excellence in Primary/Early Years (Music and Drama)
- Listen Imagine Compose Primary, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
- Musical Mondays, Live Music Now
- Play Percussion, Sing Up
- The Creative Space, Brays School
- Thinking Music
The winners of three other categories will also be announced on 22 February: the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Music Teacher Magazine Editor’s Award (sponsored by Avid), and the Drama & Theatre Magazine Editor’s Award.
The headline sponsors of the awards are Broadway Licensing Global and Casio Music UK.
Information about how to purchase tickets for the ceremony can be found here, and the shortlists for all categories can be found here.
N.B. Judges with a connection to an entry did not participate in the judging of that category.
