Nominations now being accepted for the 2015 Music Teacher Awards for Excellence

Photo credits: © Ceri Wood Photography    

Announced today are details of the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence and once again Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com are sponsoring the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

“Created to celebrate excellence in music education, the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence are now in their third year, and accepting nominations for 10 award categories. 

The 2015 Awards will be presented at a gala evening at The Grange St Pauls Hotel in London, on the first night of Music Education Expo (12 March 2015). 

2014 winners include Vivienne Price, In Harmony Opera North, Singing Playgrounds from Ex Cathedra, Baden-Powell and St Peter’s Junior School and Drake Music Scotland. 

This year there are 11 award categories, 10 of which will be accepting nominations. Short video clips outlining the criteria for each award can be found online, as well as written explanations. 

Nominations are encouraged from all sections of the public, and will be accepted until Friday 24 October 2014. 

The shortlist will be announced online in mid-November and in the December issue of Music Teacher magazine. 

The categories 

For which nominations are accepted: 

· Best Musical Initiative Award, sponsored by the Royal Marines Band Service 
· Best Print Resource Award, sponsored by Rhinegold Publishing Ltd
· Best Digital/Technological Resource Award
· Best SEN Resource Award
· Excellence in Primary/Early Years Music Award
· Best School Music Department Award, sponsored by the MMA (Music Masters Association) 
· Musicians’ Union Inspiration Award, sponsored by the Musicians’ Union – NEW
· Best Music Education Product Award – NEW
· Best Classical Music Education Initiative Award, sponsored by Classic FM
· Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com 

For which nominations are not accepted: 

· Music Teacher Magazine Editor’s Award, sponsored by Hiddledy Piggledy Jazz

More information about the categories, including judging criteria, can be found and nominations can be made at www.musiceducationexpo.co.uk/awards

The judges 

The winners of each category (save for the Music Teacher Magazine Editor’s Award, decided by Thomas Lydon & the Best Classical Music Education Initiative Award, decided by a public vote on classicfm.com) will be selected by an experienced panel of judges, chaired by Thomas Lydon, editor ofMusic Teacher magazine: 

· Professor David Saint, principal, Birmingham Conservatoire
· Lucy Johnstone-McCarthy, head of music, Baden-Powell and St Peter’s C of E Junior School
· Paul McManus, chief executive, Music Industries Association
· Judith Webster, chief executive, Music For Youth