Scottish contenders feature in end-of-year awards nominations

Best wishes to the Scottish contenders in this year’s 4barsrest list of nominations for top recognition in the brass band world.

The 2024 4BR Awards include Katrina Marzella-Wheeler, former conductor of Kingdom Brass, now with the cooperation band, in the running for Conductor of the Year; Riverside Youth Band nominated for the Lower Section Band of the Year; and Sheona White listed for Player of the Year as well as having her CDs New Music for Eb Tenor Horn and String Orchestra and The Beauty Within included in the category for Solo/Ensemble CD of the Year.

For the full list of nominees, click here.

The nominations will be considered by an international panel of critics and informed observers who will select their top three in each category. In the event of a tie, a casting voted by 4BR editor Iwan Fox will decide the winner. The results will be announced on Christmas Day.

It’s turning out to be quite some year for Katrina as she is also one of the four nominations announced for the annual Royal Philharmonic Society's Inspiration Award for “breaking down barriers" in the brass band movement and "creating opportunities for women, non-binary and under-represented people to thrive in leadership and conducting roles."

Her nomination adds: "She is devoted to ensuring that brass banding is inclusive and forward looking, through the music she conducts and programmes, the environment and culture she creates in her own bands, and the wide range of people with whom she works."

Regarded as the BAFTAs for classical music', the RPS Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in a number of different categories — from Conductor and Ensemble of the Year to Young Artist and Gamechangers.

The Inspiration Award is the only category voted on by members of the public, with the Yamaha artist and conductor hoping to following Derwent Brass in 2024 in winning the prestigious accolade.

Voting takes less than 30 seconds and as Katrina remarked: "I hope people see this as another opportunity following Derwent Brass to positively enhance the profile of the brass band movement within classical music."

You can vote for Katrina here.