Radio presenter Simon Beale presented the Music and Drama Education Awards 2025 at a live ceremony on 30 January at The Royal National Hotel, London.
The winners were chosen from a pre-announced shortlist, with six organisations or individuals given high commendations for their work.
The MDEA jury – chaired by Phil Croydon, editor of Music Teacher, and Wendy Frost, Head of Content (Drama) for Expo 2025 – was made up of a range of leading voices from the worlds of music and drama education.
The music categories were judged by Emily Crowhurst, School21; Kate Campbell-Green, Head of Tameside Music Service; Kay Charlton, consultant and composer; Aileen Douthwaite, founder and director of AMD Arts Consultancy Ltd; Liv Edwards, Senior Leader at Kent Music; Jon Fell, Head of Creative Arts, Southwark College; Tolu McCarthy, teacher, writer and speaker; Edwin Pitt Mansfield, educator, performer and musical director; and Sarah Share, Assistant Head, Advice, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Leicestershire Music.
This year the awards included a new category, The MTI Award for Achievement in Musical Theatre Provision. Sponsored by Music Theatre International (MTI), the award acknowledges and celebrates outstanding musical theatre provision in a primary or secondary setting.
Two Editor Awards were given directly by Music Teacher and Drama & Theatre magazines, each to an individual or organisation of its choosing. Phil Croydon gave the Music Teacher award to Brass Bands England, for the charity’s work in supporting community music-making and supporting instrumental music in schools.
The full list of winners:
Outstanding Musical Initiative
Winner: Flagship Schools Programme, Music Masters
Outstanding Drama Initiative
Winner: School Workshops and Performing International Plays
Outstanding Music Education Resource
Winner: Musical Storyland and the BBC Philharmonic
Outstanding Music Education Print Resource
Winner: How to Sight-Read by Paul Harris, Faber Music
Outstanding Drama Education Resource
Winner: Work In Theatre Teacher Toolkit, Get Into Theatre
Highly commended: Shakespeare Learning Zone, Royal Shakespeare Company
Excellence In SEND (Music & Drama)
Winner: Voices In The Wilderness, The Big Reveal
Highly commended: Orchestra360, Create Music
Excellence In Musical Theatre (Music & Drama)
Winner: BB Broadway at Turbine Theatre Battersea
MTI Award For Achievement In Musical Theatre Provision
Winner: Droylsden Academy, Manchester
Highly commended: Caister Academy, Caister-On-Sea
Excellence In Primary and Early Years (Music & Drama)
Winner: Satellite Opera House, Buxton Opera
The Rocksteady Award For Progressive And Inclusive Music Education
Winner: Composition Challenges, London Sinfonietta
Highly Commended: Powerjam Band Project
Outstanding School Music Department
Winner: The Winston Churchill School, Woking
Highly commended: Bristol Cathedral Choir School
Outstanding School Drama Department
Winner: Treviglas Academy, Cornwall
Instrumental or Vocal Teacher Of The Year
Winner: Catherine Williams
Music Inspiration Award
Winner: Carly Palmer
Drama Inspiration Award
Winner: Zelia Attzs
Highly commended: Nick O'Brien
Music Teacher Magazine Editor’s Award
Winner: Brass Bands England
Drama & Theatre Magazine Editor’s Award
Winner: Theatre Royal Stratford East
Lifetime Achievement Award (Music)
Winner: Professor Martin Fautley
Lifetime Achievement Award (Drama)
Winner: Chris Lawrence
