Charles Hazlewood wins Making Music's Sir Charles Groves Prize

Florence Lockheart
Thursday, June 22, 2023

The conductor and Paraorchestra founder recieved the award at a special Paraorchestra performance on Tuesday

Making Music chief executive Barbara Eifler (left) presented Charles Hazlewood (right) with the prize at a special performance by the Paraorchestra (Image courtesy of Making Music)
Making Music chief executive Barbara Eifler (left) presented Charles Hazlewood (right) with the prize at a special performance by the Paraorchestra (Image courtesy of Making Music)

Leisure-time music organisation Making Music has announced that British conductor Charles Hazlewood has been awarded the Sir Charles Groves Prize. The award was presented to Hazlewood by Making Music chief executive Barbara Eifler at a special Paraorchestra performance on Tuesday (20 June).

Hazlewood receives the Prize in recognition of his ‘outstanding contribution to the musical life of the United Kingdom’. Having founded the Bristol-based Paraorchestra, Hazlewood continues to lead the organisation as artistic director. The world's first large-scale professional ensemble of virtuoso disabled and non-disabled musicians, the orchestra aims to shift the perception of disability by removing barriers preventing disabled musicians from showcasing their talent.

Eifler said: ‘We are delighted to be able to recognise an immensely talented artist who has done so much to broaden the perception of who can be a musician; barriers to creativity are not inside people, but in the world in which they find themselves. Here is someone who does not accept these barriers and shows us all how – and why – we should help remove them.’

In addition to his work with the Paraorchestra, Hazlewood has worked with orchestras worldwide, and created music for films for BBC TV and Sky Arts. His accolades include three Sony Radio Academy Awards and the Berlin Film Festival 'Golden Bear' for Best Film with his South African township opera company's U-Carmen eKhayelitsha.

Established in 1990, the biennial Sir Charles Groves Prize is selected by Making Music’s board of trustees the award honours the remarkable contribution of conductor and former Making Music president, Sir Charles Groves to both leisure-time music and British musicianship. Hazlewood joins a legacy of previous recipients including Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, Sir Karl Jenkins, Nicola Benedetti, Howard Goodall and the Edinburgh International Music Festival.

Hazlewood said: ‘I am beyond honoured (and feel thoroughly unworthy) to accept the Sir Charles Groves award. I have had an utterly joyous life making music with a smorgasbord of brilliant people for over 30 years; it is its own reward, but to be recognised by Making Music is very special indeed.’