PRS Foundation and The New BBC Radiophonic Workshop have teamed up to launch the Oram Awards, which will celebrate the work of female musicians operating in music, sound and other related technologies.
Named after Daphne Oram, one of the founders of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, the awards ceremony will take place on June 3 at the Turner Contemporary Margate.
"[Oram] played a vital role in establishing women at the forefront of innovation, in newly emerging audio technologies, in the UK and around the world," says a press release announcing the awards. "Fast forward to 2017 and whilst there are many women innovating in music and sound, their work and their voices often struggle to be heard and we’re missing the opportunity to celebrate role models for the next generation."
The awards will see two winners receive special commendations as well as a £1000 bursary each from PRS Foundation. Six further winners will also receive £500 bursary funding from PRS Foundation. The judging panel for the awards will include singer Roisin Murphy, mastering engineer Mandy Parnell and representatives from The New BBC Radiophonic Workshop (with Matthew Herbert among them), PRS Foundation and The Daphne Oram Foundation.
"The Oram Awards are a fantastic way to put a spotlight on the next generation of talented female music and sound innovators in the UK today whilst also recognising the important legacy of Daphne Oram," says Vanessa Reed, Chief Executive of PRS Foundation.
Matthew Herbert, who is Creative Director of The New Radiophonic Workshop, says: "One of the best aspects of the original workshop was the opportunity it gave to women in a field traditionally dominated by men. In 2017, it’s frankly embarrassing to say that it’s still a battle that needs to be fought. These awards and this initiative is hopefully one way for us to find the next generation of innovators out there and give them not only support but also an outlet for their work and ideas."
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