Celebrating the Power of Music
with Nordoff Robbins
and isolated people. The charity
supports thousands of people
through its own centres and by
working in over 150 partnerships
with a wide range of
organisations including care
homes, schools and hospitals.
Classical duo Michael Ball & Alfie Boe.
M
usic industry greats
joined forces to raise
vital funds for UK charity
Nordoff Robbins, with a star-
studded awards ceremony
held at the Grosvenor House
in London. The 43rd O2 Silver
Clef Awards raised a
staggering £705,000 to
support vulnerable and
isolated people through
music therapy.
Nordoff Robbins supporter Peter
Andre provided coverage of
arrivals on the blue carpet and
radio DJ Edith Bowman was on
hand to present the ceremony.
On the night, giants of music
including Pink Floyd’s Roger
Waters and Led Zeppelin’s
Robert Plant were honoured for
their contribution to music.
Roger Waters was presented
with the Nordoff Robbins O2
Silver Clef Award, while Robert
Plant won the Integro
Outstanding Award.
The American Express Icon
Award went to Welsh rockers
Stereophonics and multi-
platinum recording artist Ellie
Goulding was awarded the Liz
Hobbs Best Female Award. In
addition British Singer,
songwriter and musician George
Ezra took home the AEG
Presents Best Male Award.
Ellie Goulding said, “From a very
early age, music was everything
to me, the ultimate companion
and often a way for me to
express myself. The way Nordoff
Robbins uses the power of
music to bring everyone together
is extraordinary. It creates this
personal language so people
can express themselves. I’m
8
THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK
honoured to receive this award,
thank you.”
Irish rock band The Script were
presented with the Raymond Weil
International Award, classical duo
Michael Ball & Alfie Boe received
the PPL Classical Award and
Rudimental were awarded the
Bose Innovation Award. R&B artist
Jorja Smith collected the Amazon
Music Best Newcomer Award. The
Sky Best Group Award was
awarded to alternative pop band
Bastille.
The Script on the blue carpet at
Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef 2018
at Grosvenor House.
Last year it was announced that
Nordoff Robbins is to benefit
from a dedicated three-year
charity partnership arrangement
with long-term supporters, O2.
Gareth Griffiths, Head of
Sponsorship, O2, commented,
“O2 is incredibly proud of our
association with Nordoff
Robbins, now our 15th year as
partner of the O2 Silver Clef
Awards. I’ve visited Nordoff
Robbins centres and seen for
myself just what an important
part music, and the charity, play
in people’s lives.”
Nordoff Robbins is the largest
independent music therapy
charity in the UK, dedicated to
changing the lives of vulnerable
When delivered by a trained
practitioner, music therapy can
be used to support people living
with a wide range of needs. It
can help a child with autism to
communicate, reduce anxiety for
those living with dementia or
provide comfort and celebrate
the life of someone facing
terminal illness.
The crucial work this charity
does dates back to 1959, when
American composer and pianist
Paul Nordoff and special
education teacher Clive Robbins
developed a new form of
collaborative music-making to
engage vulnerable and isolated
children. They called this
‘therapy in music’. By 1976, the
pair had established the first
Nordoff Robbins fundraising
team, whose job it was to
support the work, training
and research of Nordoff
Robbins music therapy.
The charity has since gone
from strength to strength.
World-renowned musicians
have lent their support
with events like fundraising
concerts. In 1990,
performers including Paul
McCartney, Genesis, Eric
Clapton, Pink Floyd, Elton John
and Robert Plant and Jimmy
Page performed at a fundraising
rock concert, raising money for
the opening of a Nordoff
Ellie Goulding.
Robbins music therapy centre in
Kentish Town, North London.
In 1995, the Nordoff Robbins’
Master of Music Therapy Degree
Programme was launched to train
the therapists of the future. By
2009, The Andrew Lloyd Webber
Foundation Nordoff Robbins
Music Therapy Unit had opened,
establishing a second base. Six
years later, a third unit was
opened at the Royal Albert Hall.
Nordoff Robbins CEO Julie
Whelan commented, “The O2
Silver Clef Awards are one of the
reasons why Nordoff Robbins is
able to continue delivering life-
changing music therapy to so
many people, facing some of the
biggest challenges, who
desperately need our help.
For 43 years this event has
celebrated the best names in
music, whilst raising over £10.5
million for our charity to date. We
are forever grateful for the
tremendous support it receives
year on year.”
To find out more about Nordoff
Robbins, Visit: nordoff-
robbins.org.uk
Tel: 020 7267 4496
Nordoff Robbins music therapy in action.