Music Awards 2026

Celebrating our students 

The Music Graduation Awards provided a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional talent and dedication of our graduating students. Honouring achievement across a wide range of disciplines, the evening recognised excellence in Studio Recording & Production (Bill Leader Award), Composition (Derek Scott Award), Performance (Goff Richards and Johnny Marr Awards), Dissertation (Sheila Whiteley Award), and Arranging (Robin Dewhurst Award). Additional categories such as Collaborative Practice, Contemporary & Contextual Study, Audio for Media, Collection of Writings, Studio Composition, Music Management & Creative Enterprise, and the prestigious Directorate Award highlighted the breadth and diversity of skills our students have developed throughout their studies. Many of the awards are named after influential academics and industry partners whose contributions continue to shape our programmes and inspire the next generation of music professionals.

The event was a true celebration of creativity, hard work and community, with students coming together to mark their achievements in style. The atmosphere on the night was warm, vibrant and full of pride, as friends, peers and staff applauded the successes of this year’s cohort. It was clear how much the recognition meant to our graduates, who embraced the occasion and celebrated each other’s accomplishments. A memorable evening for all involved, the Music Graduation Awards once again showcased the outstanding talent within our music community and the bright futures ahead for our students.