The Independent Society of Musicians has presented professor Martin Fautley with the Distinguished Musician Award (DMA) at a ceremony at London’s Wigmore Hall.
Bestowed by the ISM Council each year, the DMA recognises individuals who have made an ‘outstanding contribution to musical life in the UK’. Previous recipients include Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason (2022), Nicola Benedetti CBE (2021), Errollyn Wallen CBE (2020), Sir David Willcocks and Sir Michael Tippett.
The 2023 award has gone to professor Fautley of Birmingham City University for his contribution to music education in the UK.
Fautley has a wealth of experience in terms of both pedagogy and research. He was a school music teacher for many years before undertaking doctoral research in the education and music faculties of Cambridge University.
He is known internationally for his research into assessment in music education – the subject of his book published in 2010 by Oxford University Press – and for his work on the ‘Listen Imagine Compose’ action-research project. ‘Listen Imagine Compose’, started in 2010, focused on how composition was taught and learned in secondary schools, and led to the creation of CPD for secondary music teachers. In 2024 a primary-age iteration of the project, co-designed by Fautley and Nancy Evans, won the award for Excellence in Primary/Early Years at the 2024 Music and Drama Education Awards.
Fautley has published over 60 journal articles, book chapters, and academic research papers on aspects of teaching and learning in music education. He is co-editor of the British Journal of Music Education, and co-author of the ISM Trust’s National Curriculum for Music frameworks for primary and Key Stage 3 music.
Presenting the award, Nicky Spence OBE, ISM president, said: ‘Professor Martin Fautley has been at the forefront of music education in the UK, and it is with great pleasure that I present this award to him on behalf of the ISM Council. We must encourage and inspire young people from all socioeconomic backgrounds and all areas of the UK to participate in music-making. Teachers should be given the necessary tools to ensure they can provide high-quality music education to all.’
Professor Fautley said: ‘I am thrilled to have been awarded the Distinguished Musician Award. Being in the company of some of the UK's most notable musicians is an honour. I have always strongly advocated for music education, most notably in the area of musical progression for students and in supporting music assessment within schools. I am grateful to receive an award as recognition of my contribution to UK music education.'
Fautley is part of the B-MERG research group at Birmingham City University.
