Alumna wins prestigious RPS award

Welsh composer, and School of Music alumna, Sarah Lianne Lewis was honoured with the Chamber-Scale Composition Award at the 2025 Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Awards for her work Letting the Light In.

Recognised as one of the most significant nights in UK classical music, the RPS Awards celebrate the outstanding impact of musicians and composers nationwide. This year's event was held on 6 March at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Sarah’s award-winning composition, written as part of Drake Music Scotland and the Disabled Artist Network’s Beyond Borders, Beyond Barriers initiative, reflects on her personal journey of new motherhood, balancing a career with caregiving, and the impact of this on her disability.

The solo piano piece features on the first-ever commercial album dedicated to UK disabled composers, produced by NMC Recordings.

Sarah’s work is known for its evocative textures and sensitive exploration of contemporary themes, and this latest accolade reaffirms her place as a leading voice in modern composition.

Her success at the RPS Awards not only highlights the depth of talent within Wales but also underscores the importance of inclusivity and representation in classical music.

Dr Nick Jones, Head of the School of Music, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Sarah’s piano work, Letting the Light In, has won this highly prestigious award. It is a recognition of Sarah’s ever-growing status as one of Wales’s leading contemporary composers. The School of Music is naturally very proud of her wonderful achievement!”