UK Early Music takes centre stage as awards season begins

British Early Music is enjoying a striking presence across this autumn’s major classical music awards, with UK ensembles and artists prominent in the Gramophone Awards shortlist, two British projects nominated for REMA (the European Early Music Network) Awards and a new Critics’ Circle prize dedicated to Early Music and Historically Informed Performance.

Four UK groups feature among the Gramophone finalists. In the Choral category, Robert Hollingworth and I Fagiolini are shortlisted for Benevoli’s Missae Angelus Domini & Dum complerentur, alongside Robert Quinney and the Choir of New College Oxford for William Mundy: Vox Patris Caelestis.

The Voice and Ensemble shortlist includes Ian Page and The Mozartists’ Gluck Arias with Swedish mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg, already named Best Operatic Recital at the 2025 International Opera Awards.

Also nominated is Telemann: Ino Cantata and Double Concertos from Florilegium and Ashley Solomon, flute and direction, featuring soprano Elizabeth Watts, violinist Rachel Podger and recorder player Hannah Parry. Continuo Foundation awarded Florilegium a grant towards making the recording, which was released by Channel Classics in March 2026.

‘This remarkable showing reflects the growing confidence, quality and impact of Early Music within the wider classical landscape,’ said Tina Vadaneaux, CEO of Continuo Foundation. ‘These artists are combining outstanding musicianship with adventurous repertoire and a real determination to reach new audiences. Florilegium’s nomination is particularly gratifying, because Continuo helped to make the recording possible. It shows exactly what targeted investment can achieve.’

British singers also appear on two internationally produced recordings shortlisted in the Opera category. Tenor Andrew Staples takes the title role in Mozart’s Idomeneo, recorded by Sir Simon Rattle with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, while countertenor Hugh Cutting sings the Spirit in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with Il Pomo d’Oro and Maxim Emelyanychev. 

There is further UK recognition in the 2026 REMA Awards. Banbury Early Music Festival and recorder player Sarah Jeffery’s popular YouTube channel Team Recorder are both nominated for Audience Project of the Year - one for building a live festival community, the other for making music education accessible to a worldwide digital audience. The winners will be announced at the REMA Summit in Bruges on 25 November.

The Gramophone shortlist, announced on 21 August, comprises six recordings in each of 11 categories. The winners will be revealed in London on the evening of 7 October.

Earlier on the same day, another significant moment for the sector takes place at the London Coliseum when the Critics’ Circle Music Awards introduces a new category for Early Music and Historically Informed Performance, supported by Continuo Foundation.

‘For Early Music to receive its own Critics’ Circle award is a significant step,' said Vadaneaux. ‘Together with the Gramophone and REMA nominations, it signals that rather than being a specialist corner of classical music, Early Music is one of its most dynamic and influential creative forces.’

View over 400 upcoming Early Music concerts in the UK on Continuo Connect by visiting our What's On page.