The Music and Drama Education Awards are an annual opportunity to celebrate the incredible work done by arts educators, project leaders and resource suppliers across the UK, and one for which I am very proud to co-chair the judging panel. This year a number of new drama-specific awards have been added to the annual roster, affording us the chance to recognise the work of an individual drama teacher, a school drama department, a drama initiative and a young theatre critic among our 16 winners.
At the black tie Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 4 March 2020 in London's Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, shortlisted nominees and the great and good of the drama and music education world will gather to enjoy a drinks reception and a three course meal before host Alan Titchmarsh leads us through the presentation of awards, accompanied by music from members of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Those of you not familiar with the Awards should be encouraged to nominate yourself, your colleagues and friends, projects, products and services for the MDEA 2021 – anyone can nominate, and winning or even being shortlisted can be a real boon to an individual or company.
A boost for schools
Matt O’Keefe, Head of Music at The Belvedere Academy in Liverpool, which was the winner of Best School Music Department 2019, sat on the judging panel this year and told me what a positive impact winning last year had had on his department's profile within the school: ‘It really doesn't get much better than this: we are all understandably thrilled to be nationally recognised at such a prestigious event.’
‘We plan to use our wonderful accolade to further enrich the lives of our pupils through Music and hopefully even go on to encourage other schools in the North West to do the same. Knowing that nominations were created by the students and parents themselves makes us truly believe that we are giving our students a unique and outstanding experience in Music and is a testament to how much the department is thriving. We have achieved so much in a short space of time, and thanks to recognition in the form of an illustrious award, it will further boost our growth, success, and ultimately enrich the lives of many Liverpudlian girls and girls from the surrounding area in the future. There are talks to potentially change our school specialism to Music as we begin our next chapter….’
Awards for Drama this year are shortlisted as follows:
Drama Inspiration Award, sponsored by Trinity College London
An award for an exceptionally inspirational drama teacher in a school, private or other educational setting.
- Gill Foster – London South Bank University
- Harriet Baynham-Williams – All Saints’ Academy, Cheltenham
Excellence in Musical Theatre, sponsored by ABRSM
An educational project or resource which has taken place or been released since 1 September 2018, and which has introduced, made more accessible, or demonstrably aided the teaching or learning of Musical Theatre for students or participants of any age.
- Musical Theatre Catalogue – The School Musicals Company
- Trench Brothers – HMDT Music
- The Heath Perform Theatre Company
- Behind The Magic – Disney Performing Arts & Stagecoach Performing Arts
Excellence in Primary/Early years (an award for Music and/or Drama), sponsored by Duet Education
An educational project or resource which has taken place or been released since 1 September 2018, and which has greatly enhanced arts provision in music and/or drama for Early Years and Primary students.
- East Ayrshire Whole Class Primary String Project – East Ayrshire Council
- Sing Together – Sing Together. Blackburn Cathedral
- Selby Sings – Performing Arts etc Ltd.
- Little Notes
- The Primary Initiative – National Drama
Excellence in SEND (an award for Music and/or Drama), sponsored by Casio Music
An award for a resource or initiative, released or taking place since 1 September 2018, which makes music or drama more accessible to people with SEND.
- Jackdaws – Song Story – Jackdaws Music Education Trust
- Sing! Play! Learn! with Go Kid Music – Collins Music
- African Activities CIC SEN – African Activities
- Mfalme Simba – Manor Academy
- Bridges – Octagon Theatre Bolton Inspiring Sounds – Services For Education
Outstanding Drama Education Resource
An award for an educational resource of any kind which significantly aids drama education.
- Theatre in Practice, A Student's Handbook 2nd Ed. published by Routledge – The Stanislavski Experience – Nick O’Brien and Annie Sutton
- The Inspiring Drama Teacher – Drama Resource
- Key Stage Three Drama Assessment Starter Pack – No Nonsense Drama – Alison Warren and Catherine Nash
- Blodin the Beast – Cheshire East/NASUWT
- Cookies Play & Educational Resources – Masterclass (Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust)
- Multiplay Drama – Nick Hern Books
- Aurora Metro Drama Plays and Playreadings – Aurora Metro Publications
Outstanding Drama Initiative
An award for an initiative which has demonstrably improved drama provision for students of any age. This can be any project run within an educational setting, charitably, or commercially, covering any period of time.
- For Queen's And Country – Queens College
- Academy – Octagon Theatre Bolton
- The Clarenwood Drama Project – Clarendon Academy and Kingswood School
- Artists in Residence
- The Children's Shakespeare Festivals – North West Drama
- Schools Club – The Old Vic
- When I was 14 – Total Insight Theatre
Outstanding School Drama Department, sponsored by the University of West London
An exemplary department which goes above and beyond in the pursuit of excellence in drama provision.
- Admiral Lord Nelson School, Portsmouth
- Queen's Park High School, Chester
- Berkhamsted Schools Group, Berkhamsted
- Coombe Boys’ School, New Malden
- King's Ely, Ely
Three further categories have no announced shortlists but will be awarded to winners on the night:
Young Theatre Critic of the Year
Awarded to a person aged 16 to 24 who shows extraordinary promise as a theatre critic.
Drama & Theatre Magazine Editor's Award
Given by the Editor of Drama & Theatre Magazine to a project, resource or individual of their choice.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded to a person working in music or drama education whose career has been marked by an exceptional commitment to improving the lives of others through the arts.
For more information, visit www.musicdramaedawards.com