The winners of the 2026 RPS Awards – billed by the Sunday Times as “the biggest night in UK classical music” – have been announced, celebrating classical music’s power and resonance nationwide. Trinity Laban Professor of Trumpet Matilda Lloyd took home the RPS Young Artist Award, supported by Julian Lloyd Webber.
Over 850 music-makers and music-lovers gathered at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall for the event on 12 March, hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Georgia Mann and Petroc Trelawny, with trophies presented by RPS Chair Angela Dixon. Trumpet Professor Matilda Lloyd was recognised for the outstanding award in recognition of her exceptional artistry, commitment to championing new music, and the trumpet’s expanding voice on today’s musical landscape. Matilda is a true advocate for her instrument and female brass players, with the award also recognising her collaboration with Wales’ Tredegar Town Band and Buckinghamshire’s Amersham Band.
Described by BBC Music Magazine as a “trumpeter extraordinaire,” Matilda Lloyd is redefining the voice of her instrument on the world stage. Celebrated for her flawless tone, purity of line and dynamic subtlety, Matilda is a radiant force in classical music, captivating audiences with her virtuosic command of the trumpet. Her critically acclaimed discography with Chandos Records showcases her fearless artistry, combining technical brilliance and expressive depth with innovative programming. Resonance, features a “riveting new account” (Gramophone Magazine) of Weinberg’s Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra, while Casta Diva with Britten Sinfonia and Rumon Gamba reimagines Italian operatic arias with the voice of the trumpet. September 2025 saw the release of Fantasia with organist Richard Gowers, pairing Baroque works by Bach, Krebs, Pachelbel and Martini with four newly commissioned pieces by leading British composers, highlighting Matilda’s ongoing commitment to exploring new possibilities for the trumpet.
Commenting on winning the award, Matilda Lloyd says: “I still can’t really believe it! I’m so thrilled to have won the RPS Young Artist Award – what a wonderful moment not just for me, but for the trumpet and for all trumpet players! It was such a fantastic night for brass – with Peter Moore scooping up the Instrumentalist Award too. Thank you so much to Julian Lloyd Webber for supporting this award and to all who have followed my journey and continue to support me!”