Announcing the Winners of the YAMawards 2024!

The 15th edition of the YAMawards took place last night in Bodø, Norway, crowning the very best live music productions for young audiences.

YAM (Young Audiences Music) is JM International’s program dedicated to bringing exceptional live music experience to children and youth worldwide, with over 30,000 concerts held annually throughout the network. Since 2008, the YAMawards have been on the search for the very best in young audiences music productions from around the world. The YAMawards evening in Bodø, Norway, was a truly unforgettable event, filled with magic, emotions, and joy. The level of music, depth of storytelling and passion inherent to each nominee is a testament to what it takes to engage and inspire young minds.

INTRODUCING THE 2024 WINNERS!

It’s time to meet the best live music productions for young audiences in 2024. These productions have been chosen from over 70 phenomenal submissions from 25 countries.

The YAMawards winners of 2024 are…

Category: Best Small Ensemble

Production: Antti Paalanen & Wild Accordion

Producer: Antti Paalanen

Country: Finland

Antti Paalanen demonstrates all the qualities of a great live music production, showing not only high-quality music, but deep authenticity, quirky uniqueness, and a strong connection to the audience. He charmed the jury with his captivating, moving, and virtuous production, bringing a unique wall of sound from just one man and his accordion. This production has tradition, something new, and an interesting storyline that is equally matched by the compelling presence of a great artist. His sounds take young audiences on a surprising journey they have most certainly never been on before.

Category: Best Large Ensemble

Production: The Philharmonic Moves

Producer: Oslo-filharmonien

Country: Norway

The Philharmonic Moves, by the Oslo Philharmonic in Norway, is a phenomenally engaging concert for children. It’s wonderful to see the symphonic musicians performing with such genuine enthusiasm. The entire orchestra is fully involved, not just musically, but through movement, incorporating both choreography and direction. They play exceptionally well, and the dancer—who also takes on the role of host—is simply fantastic. The production encourages students to connect with the music, both internally and through movement. During the concert, the children alternate between sitting and listening, watching the performance, and participating by making movements from their seats.

Category: Best Opera (Powered by RESEO)

Production: ORNITOPERA

Producer: Companhia de Música Teatral

Country: Portugal

Rethinking the idea of ‘total art’ requires a shift in how we perceive the role of artists and the purpose of art, especially considering the notion that music can be a tool for human development. This concept lies at the heart of Companhia de Música Teatral’s work. Recognizing that we learn most and best in early childhood, they create musical worlds that allow the youngest to dream, laugh, and explore. Ornitopera is more than just a performance - it's an experience, a journey to a place where words have vanished. Or have they? In this gathering of birds, sounds transform into dialogues and stories. Ornitopera opens the door to a magical world, where gentleness and attentive listening are the keys to harmony. This project deeply moved the jury, renewing the young audience's opera landscape through the inventive musical language and beautifully playful scenography.

Category: Best Participatory Project

Production: The Moon is Listening

Producer: Karen Gillingham

Country: UK

Dawn to Dusk – The Moon is Listening is a unique participatory project connecting children from England, Italy, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. Through space and time, music and voices transcend borders to create an intercultural dialogue. A large scale project that enabled more than 200 young people, connecting through new digital technology, to exchange ideas, perform and learn from each other, dream together of a new art piece they would collectively build. Director Karen Gillingham and the creative team designed an opera performed almost completely by young people, the stage becoming a place of empowerment. The level of professionalism as well as the depth of the collaborative work really impressed the jury. The creative journey as well as the performance that was given at the Garsington Festival are living proof that art can and should be shared with everyone.

Category: Ebbe Høyrup Best School Concert

Production: Wurst-Case Scenario

Producer: Funky Currywurst Brothers

Country: Austria

From a common background touring with the international percussion show 'Stomp' for many years, our two winning musicians have taken the energy, the experience, the sharp rhythmic choreographies and their signature slapstick humour with them and turned it all into their very own music genre, they call Rhythm & Comedy. Combining virtuosic playing on plastic cups, choreography for office chairs and body percussion, bells, melodica and kalimba this dynamic duo has created a unique percussion concert that has toured extensively for a good reason.

Category: The Public Choice Award

Production: ORNITOPERA

Producer: Companhia de Música Teatral

Country: Portugal

The Public Choice Award is the only YAMaward given by the fans and this year it was awarded to Ornnitopera, making this their second win of the evening. Their exceptional performance and popularity among the audience truly shone through, earning them well-deserved recognition.

RELIVE THE CEREMONY!

For those who couldn’t attend in person, you can relive the YAMawards experience through the official YouTube livestream by clicking here.

STAY IN TOUCH

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Website: www.yamawards.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/youngaudiencesmusic

Instagram: @youngaudiencesmusic

For further inquiries, you can reach us at info@yamawards.org.