Music industry unites to raise £780,000 at this year’s glittering O2 Silver Clef Awards

In recognition of a record-breaking career by a true trailblazer and inspirational live performer, P!NK was presented with the prestigious O2 Silver Clef Award by Barrie and Jenny Marshall of Marshall Arts, who have known and worked with P!NK for 25 years.

During her speech, P!NK thanked Nordoff and Robbins and her fellow recipients: “This is not a small thing, this is the whole point of why any of us do this. Getting this award tonight from an organisation that runs on compassion, this means a lot to me. Looking around the room at all of these powerful, incredible women – Melanie, Jessie, Jade, Rachel – I am so proud to be amongst all of you magical alchemists. The nurses, the staff, and all of you in this room, giving magic, giving healing, giving your hearts and your time. 50 years, here’s to at least 50 more.”

Lily Allen received the Icon Award, presented by friend and Creative Director of 16Arlington, Marco Capaldo, celebrating a masterful storyteller whose songs have defined a generation. Following the whirlwind global success of latest album West End Girl, Lily accepted the award just days after her sold-out run of shows at The O2 Arena in London.

Lily said: “I’m really grateful to the work that Nordoff and Robbins have been doing for the last 50 years … music is inherently therapeutic in listening to it and the making of it. Where sometimes words fail, music begins. When resources seem scarcer and scarcer for those who need them most, the work Nordoff and Robbins do is more urgent than ever.”

Lily Allen. Photo: Ed Hill

Receiving the award for Outstanding Achievement in Music, Jessie J thanked her award presenters and managers, Jamie Binns and Mark Pickard.

In an emotional speech, Jessie continued: “I want to acknowledge Nordoff and Robbins and Silver Clef for all that they do. Music therapy is key, young people, old people, families, everybody that needs it, it is so key. My favourite thing about being a singer and a songwriter is that music stands the test of time, and songs can be discovered when they’re needed. Thank you for existing and creating moments like this to be able to give back to people that need it the most, and also for acknowledging the reason and the purpose that I do what I do.”

Melanie C took home the Global Impact Award, celebrating her influence on pop music, her LGBTQ+ allyship and her history-making journey with Spice Girls. The award was presented to her by friend and fellow Spice World star, Richard E. Grant, wearing the very same outfit he wore in the film 29 years ago.

Also celebrating 30 years of ‘Wannabe’, Melanie thanked her fellow Spice Girls, and went on to say: “Music is my therapy, it always has been, for as long as I can remember. So, being able to still tour, work, perform all over the world, I am living my best life. It’s so, so humbling to receive this award. Congratulations to Nordoff and Robbins, 50 years of their incredible work. Music is magic, and the work that they do, it’s the most powerful use of this wonderful thing that we have as humans.”

JADE was named Best Female, presented with her award by recent collaborator and fellow recipient Lily Allen. This recognition follows the release of her acclaimed debut album That’s Showbiz Baby! last year.

JADE spoke about her new connection to Nordoff and Robbins: “It really was a huge privilege for me to visit one of the centres, to see a small part of their work first-hand, joining one of the music therapy sessions… I’d personally like to thank Nordoff and Robbins for reminding me just how magical and powerful and healing music truly is. I really needed that day I went to that visit, more than I realised. I walked away feeling a lot of love and hope and admiration for the staff and the volunteers, and the fellow music lovers that were there. I look forward to going back and I do really hope that this is the beginning of a lifelong friendship.”

JADE. Photo: Ed Hill.

Sam Fender received Best Live Act from fellow Geordie, acclaimed guitarist and singer-songwriter, and previous O2 Silver Clef Award winner, Mark Knopfler. Sam spoke about wanting to visit a Nordoff and Robbins centre: “I want to say thank you to Nordoff and Robbins, the work that you do is vital. I’m very excited to come up to the North East to the centre there and say hello to everybody. Well done all of you, keep going.”

Ludovico Einaudi picked up the Innovation in Music Award, marking his impact as a pianist and composer within both the classical and pop spaces. Ahead of his sold-out show at The O2 on Friday 10 July and an additional date added due to demand on Saturday 11 July, Ludovico collected his award from Anna Lapwood, the resident organist at Royal Albert Hall who is the opening act at his upcoming London shows.

Honoured with the Legend Award was James, presented by long-time fan, MP Andy Burnham, recognising their status as one of Britain’s most treasured and enduring bands.

For Best Group, Franz Ferdinand reunited with fellow Scot, Peter Capaldi. The band took home the award in celebration of their multitude of achievements, and longstanding presence as one of the biggest UK bands in the world.

One of Britain’s brightest breakout stars, Rachel Chinouriri accepted the accolade for Best New Music. She was given her award by Stuart Worden, Principal of The BRIT School, where Rachel studied as a teenager.

Taking home her very first award ever, Rachel said: “Tonight has been very heart-warming, very touching. Music is a very spiritual healing thing for me as a writer, and I feel blessed that it’s a language that I can speak and has been translated to so many people, and so many people in this room. But seeing the stories of the people that it’s healed has just made me feel so grateful to be able to be a part of that, and I’d love to be a part of that so much more from today.”

David Gray was awarded Best Male by friend and collaborator, comedian John Bishop, honouring his widespread recording success and reputation as a live performer.

Max Richter received the Contemporary Music award, presented by multi-hyphenate Clemency Burton-Hill, celebrating his influential, acclaimed and culturally significant classical music projects.

Funds raised through the O2 Silver Clef Awards make a real difference to the lives of people like Ed. Fourteen years ago, Ed was training to be a pilot when he was hit by a speeding taxi, which left him with a catastrophic brain injury. He was in a coma for six months. When he began to emerge from the coma, his rehabilitation started. Alongside conventional therapies, sessions with a Nordoff and Robbins music therapist helped him to relearn essential skills. He learned to walk again to the beat of a drum, and he regained his speech through singing.

Speaking on stage at the ceremony, Ed said: “Without music, without music therapy, without Nordoff and Robbins, who knows if any of this would have been possible.”

Ed’s Mum Caroline joined him on stage, saying: “Music brought me my son back. As a mother, there can be no greater gift.” Read more about Ed’s story here.