Classic FM honours the UK's top music teachers

Classic FM has honored six top music teachers in the UK at its 13th Annual Music Teacher of the Year Awards held this week at the Music for Youth Schools Prom Concerts in front of an audience of thousands.

The Awards, presented at the Royal Albert Hall in London, seek to recognise and reward those teachers who have made a real difference to the musical life of young people.

On Monday 7th November the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education presented the Primary School Music Teacher of the Year Award to Kathryn Smith of Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School, Barnsley, South Yorkshire and the Secondary School Music Teacher of the Year Award to Sheila Cornall of Wycombe High School, Buckinghamshire.

This year’s Peripatetic/Private Music Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Fran Sixsmith of Warrington Schools’ Arts and Culture Service by Sarah Teather MP, Minister of State for Children and Families on Tuesday 8th November. Sheila Oglethorpe, a teacher who has specialised in teaching music to dyslexic pupils was presented with the Special Education Needs Music Teacher of the Year Award.

Finally, on Wednesday 9th November, Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families presented John Hall of Norton Knatchbull School, Kent with the Lifetime Achievement Award. A special award was given by the judges to Matthew Hunt of Kingstone High School, Herefordshire as New Music Teacher of the Year.

The winning teachers will each receive musical equipment and instruments from Yamaha and software from Avid.

Classic FM's Tim Lihoreau caught up with four of the winners backstage at the Royal Albert Hall. Watch the interviews below

Primary School Music Teacher of the Year, Kathryn Smith of Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School, Barnsley -

Secondary Music Teacher of the Year, Sheila Cornall of Wycombe High School, Buckinghamshire