The LMP project 'Orchestra in a Village', which was part of the Cambridge Festival in November 2006, has been shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award. One of three nominations for the Education Award, this is a great result for the LMP and the Cambridge festival in recognition of the wonderful work that took place in the village of Swavesey last year.
The residency was a unique project, never attempted before on such a scale, offering everyone in Swavesey the chance to meet, listen to and/or work with the LMP musicians – at concerts, at one of the many community-focused events and even down the pub.
Throughout the week, the LMP became an integral part of the local community, working all round Swavesey and neighbouring villages, visiting play groups, primary and secondary schools, women’s groups, the pub, local businesses, retirement centres and private houses. Residents joined together to form the Swavesey Choir to perform Mozart’s Coronation Mass; attended a jam session – of all standards and instruments – at Swavesey Village College; and anyone in the village who was housebound and unable to attend events was able to call on a musician to play to them at home.
It was a great success and provided the people of Swavesey with a foundation for future arts activity and a lasting enjoyment of live performance.
The annual RPS Music Awards are the UK's most presigious recognition of achievement in the field of live classical music. The awards, in 13 categories, honour musicians, composers, writers, broadcasters and inspirational arts organisations. The list of previous winners reads like a Who's Who of classical music.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Tuesday 8 May at the Dorchester Hotel, London, hosted by BBC Radio 3's Sean Rafferty. A special programme devoted to the RPS Music Awards will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at 7.00pm on Wednesday 9 May.
