Celebrating classical music’s vibrant and vital impact, resonance, and reach nationwide, a full capacity audience of music makers and music lovers at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire was hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Jess Gillam and Tom McKinney, with trophies presented by RPS chair Angela Dixon in 13 categories to musicians and organisations across the sector.

Yamada won the Conductor award, the RPS citing his status as “a local hero” in his embrace of the community which has included delighting citizens in the Bullring shopping centre and on the city’s trams and supporting pupils at the orchestra’s Shireland CBSO Academy.

He said: “The CBSO is a big family, and I am so happy to be part of it. In recent years, we have been doing something so special in this city. We are pushing at the opportunity of what an orchestra can be in today’s world and celebrating it as a valued and cherished part of the city’s artistic life. I cannot express my gratitude to you all enough, and I am truly humbled.”

The show opened with a performance of Alec Roth’s Sometime I Sing by Ex Cathedra Student Scholars and celebrated Birmingham conductor Jeffrey Skidmore.

Birmingham music-makers were recognised with nominations for the Wolverhampton Symphony Orchestra, the CBSO Chorus, Ex Cathedra’s Singing Medicine weekly brightening the prospects of patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Birmingham Opera Company’s landmark production of Michael Tippett’s New Year involving hundreds of citizens.

The Instrumentalist award was presented to cellist Laura van der Heijden and the Singer award to soprano Claire Booth, both of whom have performed extensively across the UK.

Composer Katherine Balch’s whisper concerto, premiered by BBC Philharmonic, received the Large-Scale Composition award. BBC Radio 3’s Classical Africa received the Storytelling award in which double-bassist Leon Bosch presents a complex and captivating tapestry of sounds and ideas from a continent whose music is too often overlooked. The Young Artist Award was presented to the GBSR Duo: percussionist George Barton and pianist Siwan Rhys whose commitment to new music is inspirational and so worth following.

Instrumentalist Award nominee Ben Goldscheider performed Jörg Widmann’s Air for solo horn and other live performances on the night included Florence Price’s Night by cellist Laura van der Heijden with pianist Joachim Lim, and Grant McLachlan’s Abdi by double bassist Leon Bosch with pianist Maria Linares Molero: both pianists are Royal Birmingham Conservatoire students.

The event culminated with the much-coveted Ensemble award, presented to the pioneering Paraorchestra (pictured) which brings together professional disabled and non-disabled musicians. As presenter Jess Gillam (above) said onstage: “Paraorchestra should be the Pride of Britain. They are inspirational in their care and creativity putting disabled musicians centre-stage. Those musicians are pioneering how orchestras and audiences interact. They are invigorating concert halls with thrilling experiences.”

Receiving this award, Jonathan Harper, Chief Executive of Paraorchestra said: “Winning the RPS Ensemble Award is a tremendous recognition of the extraordinary artistic achievements of Paraorchestra over the last year, in which we presented a boundary-breaking repertoire of orchestral music experiences that blend genres and artforms, to an exceptionally wide range of audiences.”

RPS chair Angela Dixon said, “The RPS Awards have a story to tell about classical music-making in the UK today that is both inspiring and humbling. It is a story of extraordinary musicians living extraordinary lives, giving the best of themselves and making a difference. Behind each award tonight is a community of audiences, participants, and creative forces. We are here this evening to recognise excellence in classical music in all its forms and to celebrate the impact our sector is having on people in all walks of life.”

The full list of 2025 winners are below:
Chamber-scale composition – Sarah Lianne Lewis for her solo piano work letting the light in.
Conductor – CBSO music director Kazuki Yamada.
Ensemble – Paraorchestra for its work putting disabled musicians centre-stage and pioneering how orchestras and audiences interact.
Gamechanger – NMC Recordings for its work giving “vital voice and visibility to composers.”
Impact – Streetwise Opera’s Re: Discover Festival bringing together people from homelessness centres across Nottingham, Manchester and London to devise their own operas.
Inspiration – Belfast’s Open Arts Community Choir and music director tireless Beverley McGeown for “uniting disabled and non-disabled people from different backgrounds through the power of song.”
Instrumentalist – cellist Laura van der Heijden (pictured front page).
Large-scale composition – Katherine Balch for whisper concerto for Cellist Zlatomir Fung and the BBC Philharmonic.
Opera And Music Theatre – Welsh National Opera for Death in Venice – “Audiences cheered the bravery, resilience and artistry of WNO.”
Series And Events –James MacMillan’s Ayrshire festival, the Cumnock Tryst.
Singer – soprano Claire Booth.
Storytelling – BBC Radio 3’s Classical Africa series for “opening our ears to a complex and captivating tapestry of sounds and ideas.”
Young Artist – GBSR Duo, comprising percussionist George Barton and pianist Siwan Rhys.

RPS Awards partner BBC Radio 3 will broadcast a special RPS Awards programme at 7.30pm on Friday, 7th March, available for a further month on BBS Sounds. A film of the RPS Awards presentation will be available to watch for free on the RPS website for one month from Monday, 17th March.