Music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins has revealed the winners of the 2017 O2 Silver Clef Awards
Iconic acts including Dame Shirley Bassey, Phil Collins, Blondie and Nile Rodgers are joined by Emeli Sande, Mumford & Sons, Pete Tong and newcomer Anne-Marie in being honoured for their outstanding contribution to British music at the 42nd O2 Silver Clef Awards.
The awards ceremony will be presented by Edith Bowman on Friday June 30 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Bassey will be presented with the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Award, while Collins and Blondie will pick up the American Express Icon Award and Amazon Outstanding Achievement Award respectively.
Other acts receiving to be honoured include Chic co-founder Rodgers, who is awarded with the Raymond Weil International Award, Mumford & Sons, who will receive the Royal Albert Hall Best Group Award, Scottish singer/songwriter Emeli Sande will be presented with the Best Female Award, Tong will be recognised with the Innovation Award, the Jack Daniels Best Newcomer Award will go to rising star Anne-Marie, and Alexander Armstrong will collect the PPL Classical Award.
"I'm honoured to be the recipient of this year Silver Clef Award,” said Bassey. “Music is my career. Music is my life. Music is my friend. Music has been there to celebrate the highs & sooth through the lows. I believe everybody has a song inside of them; some people can lose their way in life, some struggle to express themselves - but Nordoff Robbins works with these people to find their inner songbird and true happiness."
Gareth Griffiths, Head of Sponsorship, O2, commented: “O2 is incredibly proud of our association with Nordoff Robbins, now our fourteenth year as partner of the O2 Silver Clef Awards. As passionate live music fans, we love celebrating the work of the world’s most talented artists who grace the stages at The O2 and our 19 O2 Academy venues nationwide. But we’re even bigger fans of the work Nordoff Robbins do delivering thousands of music therapy sessions every year in care homes, hospitals, schools and their own growing list of day centres around the UK. I’ve visited these Nordoff Robbins centres, and seen for myself just what an important part music, and the charity, play in people’s lives. Not just for those receiving the therapy, but their families too.”
Now in its 42nd year, the event has raised nearly £9 million for Nordoff Robbins.
The winners of this year’s awards are:
Dame Shirley Bassey – O2 Silver Clef Award
Phil Collins – American Express Icon Award
Blondie – Amazon Outstanding Achievement Award
Nile Rodgers – Raymond Weil International Award
Emeli Sande – Best Female Award
Mumford & Sons – Royal Albert Hall Best Group Award
Pete Tong – Innovation Award
Anne-Marie – Jack Daniels Best Newcomer Award
Alexander Armstrong – PPL Classical Award
By Will Nicolaides
