Lincolnshire Music Service wins digital music award for 2020

The Lincolnshire Music Service has been named ‘Youth Organisation of 2020’ by the Classical Music Digital Awards in recognition of their amazing achievements in online music teaching, and video collaborations during the pandemic.

The awards were established by music entrepreneur David Taylor, who wanted to recognise the incredible innovation, resilience, and creativity shown by musicians, ensembles, orchestras, and projects during 2020, who embraced digital forms of music and performance, while live performance wasn’t possible.

Lincolnshire Music Service moved their delivery of music teaching online at the start of the pandemic to reach out to around 800 young people weekly through fully subsidised instrumental/vocal lessons. This was done quickly and efficiently, creating a lifeline of playing music, which supported the well-being of many young people during these difficult times.

In addition, although the music service students couldn’t be together physically to rehearse and play music, they have taken part in numerous online music collaborations, all shared on YouTube. These include a joyous tribute to the NHS with ‘We’re still standing!’ from the Boston Youth Jazz Orchestra’; Horncastle MAT Jazz Band performed Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’, and Lincolnshire Youth Virtual Ensemble Orchestra entertained with ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’. Perhaps most spectacular was the virtual concert released in December, and the performance of Skyrim, by County Group members with the Manchester Video Gaming Orchestra.

Jennifer McKie, senior music adviser said, “It’s such a fantastic boost for Lincolnshire Music Service to have received this award. This has been a very difficult year, and our team went over and beyond the call of duty teaching during the day as well as evening and weekends, to ensure that young people could access their music lessons.

“Our students also put in huge efforts to continue their music learning, and fully embraced taking part in numerous online collaborations. I’m delighted that we were able to offer many students the opportunity to perform with prestigious orchestras such as the Manchester Video Gaming Orchestra and Chineke! Orchestra.”

Other winners read like a who’s who in classical music, including Amelia Conway-Jones, Royal Opera Violinist, who has raised over £46,000 for other musicians during 2020; the Philharmonia Orchestra, for its combination of digital projects, social media, and livestreaming  and London Handel Festival for their livestreamed performances, including Handel’s Messiah.