The Classic BRIT Awards (previously Classical BRIT Awards) are an annual awards ceremony held in the United Kingdom covering aspects of classical and crossover music, and are the equivalent of popular music's Brit Awards. The awards are organised by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and were inaugurated in 2000 "in recognition of the achievements of classical musicians and the growth of classical music sales in the UK". The ceremony takes place in the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

each May. The event combines live performances with specially commissioned awards presented throughout the evening. Since 2011, the ceremony has been known as "Classic BRIT Awards". After a five-year hiatus following the 2013 ceremony, the Classic BRIT Awards returned with a ceremony broadcast from the

on 13 June 2018. It was subsequently revealed that the Classic BRIT Awards would become a biennial event, with the next ceremony scheduled to be held in 2020. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television networks across the globe; the 2020 live ceremony were suspended to a later date due to a ban on large gatherings by the government in March of that year. Voting for the awards is done by "an academy of industry executives, the media, the British Association of Record Dealers (BARD), members of the Musicians Union, lawyers, promoters, and orchestra leaders," except for "Album of the Year" which is voted for by listeners of Classic FM.

Awards

2000

Friday 5 May 2000. Hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald. *British Artist of the Year –

Charlotte Church Charlotte Maria Church (born Charlotte Maria Reed, 21 February 1986) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress, television presenter and political activist from Cardiff. Church rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching i ...

*Female Artist of the Year – Martha Argerich *Male Artist of the Year – Bryn Terfel *Critics' Award – Ian Bostridge *Album of the Year – Andrea Bocelli – '' Sacred Arias'' *Best selling classical album – Andrea Bocelli – '' Sacred Arias'' *Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year – Choir of King's College, Cambridge –

Rachmaninoff Vespers The ''All-Night Vigil'' ( Pre-reform Russian: ''Всенощное бдѣніе'', ''Vsénoshchnoye bdéniye''; Modern Russian: ''Всенощное бдение'') is an a cappella choral composition by Sergei Rachmaninoff, his Op. 37, pre ...

*Young British Classical Performer – Daniel Harding * Outstanding Contribution to Music – Nigel Kennedy

2001

Thursday 31 May 2001. Hosted by Katie Derham. *Female Artist of the Year – Angela Gheorghiu *Male Artist of the Year – Nigel Kennedy *Album of the Year –

Russell Watson Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. He began singing as a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club. He came to attention in 1999 when he sang "God ...

– '' The Voice'' *Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year –

Sir Simon Rattle Sir Simon Denis Rattle (born 19 January 1955) is a British-German conductor. He rose to international prominence during the 1980s and 1990s, while music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1980–1998). Rattle was principal ...

and Berliner Philharmoniker – '' Mahler, 10th Symphony'' *Young British Classical Performer –

Freddy Kempf Frederick Albert Kempf (born 14 October 1977) is a British pianist born in Croydon to a German father and a Japanese mother. He lives in Berlin. Early life Kempf was born in Croydon. He was educated at The Junior Kings School and St Edmund's ...

*Critics' Award – Sir Simon Rattle and Berliner Philarmoniker – ''Mahler, 10th Symphony'' *Best-selling Debut Album –

– ''The Voice'' *Outstanding Contribution to Music –

2002

Wednesday 22 May 2002. Hosted by Katie Derham. *Female Artist of the Year – Cecilia Bartoli *Male Artist of the Year – Sir Colin Davis *Album of the Year –

– ''

Encore An encore is an additional performance given by performers after the planned show has ended, usually in response to extended applause from the audience.Lalange Cochrane, in ''Oxford Companion to Music'', Alison Latham, ed., Oxford University Pres ...

'' *Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year – Richard Hickox and London Symphony Orchestra – '' Vaughan Williams,

A London Symphony ''A London Symphony'' is the second symphony composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The work is sometimes referred to as Symphony No. 2, though the composer did not designate that name for the work. First performed in 1914, the original score of t ...

'' *Contemporary Music Award – Tan Dun – ''

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' is a 2000 wuxia film directed by Ang Lee and written for the screen by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Tsai Kuo-jung . The film features a cast of actors of Chinese people, Chinese ethnicity, including Ch ...

'' *Young British Classical Performer –

Guy Johnston Guy Johnston (born 1981) is a British cellist and the winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year award in 2000. He has subsequently enjoyed a successful international career as a soloist and chamber musician and currently serves as an Associat ...

*Critics' Award – Sir Colin Davis and London Symphony Orchestra – '' Berlioz,

Les Troyens ''Les Troyens'' (; in English: ''The Trojans'') is a French grand opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. The libretto was written by Berlioz himself from Virgil's epic poem the ''Aeneid''; the score was composed between 1856 and 1858. ''Les Tro ...

'' *Biggest-selling Classical Album –

– ''Encore'' *Outstanding Contribution to Music – Andrea Bocelli

2003

Thursday 22 May 2003. Hosted by Katie Derham. *Female Artist of the Year – Renée Fleming *Male Artist of the Year –

*Album of the Year – Andrea Bocelli – ''

Sentimento ''Sentimento'' is the ninth studio album released by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. It was recorded between 30 September and 7 October 2000, and released on 5 November 2002. The album was conducted by Lorin Maazel with London Symphony Orchestra, a ...

'' *Best selling classical album – Andrea Bocelli – ''

'' *Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year – Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle – '' Mahler, Symphony no. 5'' *Contemporary Music Award –

Arvo Pärt Arvo Pärt (; born 11 September 1935) is an Estonian composer of contemporary classical music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs tintinnabuli, a compositional technique he invented. Pärt's music is in pa ...

– ''Orient & Occident'' *Young British Classical Performer – Chloë Hanslip *Critics' Award –

Murray Perahia Murray David Perahia () (born April 19, 1947) is an American pianist and conductor. He is widely considered one of the greatest living pianists. He was the first North American pianist to win the Leeds International Piano Competition, in 1972. Kno ...

– '' Chopin, Etudes Opus 10, Opus 25'' *Outstanding Contribution to Music – Cecilia Bartoli

2004

Wednesday 26 May 2004. Hosted by Katie Derham. *Female Artist of the Year – Cecilia Bartoli *Male Artist of the Year – Bryn Terfel *Album of the Year – Bryn Terfel – ''Bryn'' *Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year –

and Vienna Philharmonic – '' Beethoven Symphonies'' *Contemporary Music Award –

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

– '' The Hours'' *Young British Classical Performer – Daniel Hope *Critics' Award –

Vengerov Vengerov (russian: Венге́ров) is a Russian and Ukrainian surname derived from the word ''vengr'' (венгр), which means "Hungarian (disambiguation), Hungarian". It was given to the people who arrived from Hungary and their descendants, n ...

Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian cellist and conductor. He is considered by many to be the greatest cellist of the 20th century. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was wel ...

and London Symphony Orchestra – '' Britten/ Walton Concertos'' *Outstanding Contribution to Music – Renée Fleming

2005

Wednesday 25 May 2005. Hosted by Lesley Garrett. *Female Artist of the Year –

Marin Alsop Marin Alsop ( �mɛər.ɪn ˈæːl.sɑːp born October 16, 1956) is an American conductor, the first woman to win the Koussevitzky Prize for conducting and the first conductor to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. She is music director laureate ...

*Male Artist of the Year – Bryn Terfel *Album of the Year –

Katherine Jenkins Katherine Maria Jenkins (born 29 June 1980) is a Welsh singer. She is a mezzo-soprano and performs operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre, and hymns.Harry Christophers Richard Henry Tudor "Harry" Christophers CBE FRSCM (born 26 December 1953) is an English conductor. Life and career Richard Henry Tudor Christophers was born in Goudhurst, Kent. He was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral under choirmaster Al ...

and The Sixteen – ''Renaissance'' *Contemporary Music Award – John Adams – ''

On the Transmigration of Souls ''On the Transmigration of Souls ''is a composition for orchestra, chorus, children's choir, and pre-recorded tape by the American composer John Adams (born 1947). It was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center's Great Per ...

'' *Soundtrack Composer Award –

John Williams John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932)Nylund, Rob (15 November 2022)Classic Connection review ''WBOI'' ("For the second time this year, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic honored American composer, conductor, and arranger John Williams, who wa ...

– '' Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' and '' The Terminal'' *Young British Classical Performer – Natalie Clein *Critics' Award – Stephen Hough – '' Rachmaninov Piano Concertos'' *Outstanding Contribution to Music – James Galway

2006

Thursday 4 May 2006. Hosted by Michael Parkinson. *Singer of the Year –

Andreas Scholl Andreas Scholl (born 10 November 1967) is a German countertenor, a male classical singer in the alto vocal range, specialising in Baroque music. Born into a family of singers, Scholl was enrolled at the age of seven into the Kiedricher Chorbuben ...

– ''Arias for Senesino'' *Instrumentalist of the Year – Leif Ove Andsnes – '' Rachmaninov Piano Concerto 1 and 2'' *Album of the Year –

Katherine Jenkins Katherine Maria Jenkins (born 29 June 1980) is a Welsh singer. She is a mezzo-soprano and performs operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre, and hymns.Takács Quartet The Takács Quartet is a string quartet founded in Budapest, Hungary, and now based in Boulder, Colorado, United States. History In 1975, four students at the Music Academy in Budapest, Gábor Takács-Nagy (first violin), Károly Schranz (seco ...

– '' Beethoven: The Late String Quartets'' *Contemporary Music Award – James MacMillan – ''Symphony no 3, Silence'' *Soundtrack/Musical Theatre Composer Award –

Dario Marianelli Dario Marianelli (born 21 June 1963) is an Italian composer known for his frequent collaborations with director Joe Wright. Early life, education Marianelli was born in Pisa, Italy. He came from a musically inclined family and learned the piano ...

– ''

Pride & Prejudice ''Pride and Prejudice'' is an 1813 novel of manners by Jane Austen. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreci ...

'' *Young British Classical Performer – Alison Balsom *Critics' Award – Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra, Plácido Domingo, Antonio Pappano – '' Tristan und Isolde'' *Lifetime Achievement – Plácido Domingo

2007

Thursday 3 May 2007. Hosted by Fern Britton. *Singer of the Year –

Anna Netrebko Anna Yuryevna Netrebko (russian: Анна Юрьевна Нетребко; born 18 September 1971) is an Austrian operatic soprano with an active international career and performed prominently at the Salzburg Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Vienna ...

– ''Russian Album & Violetta'' *Instrumentalist of the Year – Leif Ove Andsnes – ''Horizons'' *Album of the Year – Paul McCartney – ''Ecce Cor Meum'' *Contemporary Composer of the Year – John Adams – ''

The Dharma at Big Sur ''The Dharma at Big Sur'' is a composition for solo electric violin and orchestra by the American composer John Adams. The piece calls for some instruments (harps, piano, samplers) to use just intonation, a tuning system in which intervals sound pu ...

My Father Knew Charles Ives ''My Father Knew Charles Ives'' is an orchestral triptych by the American composer John Adams. The work was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony. It was first performed by the San Francisco Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thom ...

'' *Classical Recording of the Year – Berliner Philharmoniker and

– '' Holst,

The Planets ''The Planets'', Op. 32, is a seven- movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1917. In the last movement the orchestra is joined by a wordless female chorus. Each movement of the suite is name ...

'' *Soundtrack Composer of the Year – George Fenton – '' Planet Earth'' *Young British Classical Performer – Ruth Palmer *Critics' Award –

Freiburg Baroque Orchestra Freiburger Barockorchester (Freiburg Baroque Orchestra) is a German Baroque orchestra founded in 1987, with the mission statement: "to enliven the world of Baroque music with new sounds". History The orchestra is based in Freiburg im Breisgau. ...

RIAS Kammerchor The RIAS Kammerchor (RIAS Chamber Choir) is a German choir based in Berlin, Germany. It receives support from the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre GmbH Berlin ("Berlin Radio Orchestra and Choirs"), a limited-liability company owned by the public bro ...

, René Jacobs – ''

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...

, La Clemenza di Tito'' *Lifetime Achievement – Vernon Handley

2008

Thursday 8 May 2008. Hosted by Myleene Klass. *Male of the Year – Sir Colin Davis *Female of the Year –

*Young British Classical Performer – Nicola Benedetti *Album of the Year –

Blake Blake is a surname which originated from Old English. Its derivation is uncertain; it could come from "blac", a nickname for someone who had dark hair or skin, or from "blaac", a nickname for someone with pale hair or skin. Another theory, presuma ...

– ''Blake'' *Soundtrack of the Year –

Blood Diamond ''Blood Diamond'' is a 2006 American political war action thriller film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou. The title refers to blood diamonds, which are diamonds min ...

–

James Newton Howard James Newton Howard (born June 9, 1951) is an American film composer, music producer and keyboardist. He has scored over 100 films and is the recipient of a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, and nine nominations for Academy Awards. His film scores ...

*Critics' Award – Steven Isserlis – ''Bach: Cello Suites'' *Outstanding Contribution —

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musicals, ...

2009

Thursday 14 May 2009. Hosted by Myleene Klass. *Male of the Year – Gustavo Dudamel *Female of the Year – Alison Balsom *Composer of the Year –

Howard Goodall Howard Lindsay Goodall (; born 26 May 1958) is an English composer of musicals, choral music and music for television. He also presents music-based programmes for television and radio, for which he has won many awards. In May 2008, he was na ...

*Young British Classical Performer – Alina Ibragimova *Album of the Year – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ''Spirit of the Glen–Journey'' *Soundtrack of the Year – The Dark Knight – Hans Zimmer and

*Critics' Award – Sir Charles Mackerras/ Scottish Chamber Orchestra – ''Mozart Symphonies nos. 38–41'' *Lifetime Achievement in Music –

José Carreras Josep Maria Carreras Coll (; born 5 December 1946), better known as José Carreras (, ), is a Spanish operatic tenor who is particularly known for his performances in the operas of Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini. Born in Barcelona, he made his de ...

2010

Thursday 13 May 2010. Hosted by Myleene Klass. *Male Artist of the Year – Vasily Petrenko *Female Artist of the Year – Angela Gheorghiu *Composer of the Year – Thomas Ades – ''The Tempest'' *Young British Classical Performer or Group of the Year –

Jack Liebeck Jack Liebeck (born 4 August 1980) is a British–German violinist. In 2010, he won a Classical Brit in the young British classical performer category. He was soloist on the score for the 2011 film ''Jane Eyre'', directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and ...

*Album of the Year –

Only Men Aloud! Only Men Aloud is a male voice choir from Wales. The choir came to national prominence in the UK when they won the ''Last Choir Standing'' competition run by BBC television during 2008. Overview The choir was formed by Tim Rhys-Evans, a classica ...

– ''Band of Brothers'' *Soundtrack of the Year – ''

Revolutionary Road ''Revolutionary Road'' is American author Richard Yates's debut novel about 1950s suburban life in the East Coast. It was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1962, along with ''Catch-22'' and ''The Moviegoer''. When published by Atlantic ...

'' – Thomas Newman *Critics' Award – Orchestra e Coro dell' Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, conducted by Antonio Pappano with Rolando Villazón,

Anja Harteros Anja Harteros (born 23 July 1972) is a German soprano. Since winning the 1999 Cardiff Singer of the World competition she has been particularly associated with the Bavarian State Opera and enjoyed an international career. In her earlier career ...

, Sonja Ganassi and Rene Pape –

Messa da Requiem The ''Messa da Requiem'' is a musical setting of the Catholic funeral mass ( Requiem) for four soloists, double choir and orchestra by Giuseppe Verdi. It was composed in memory of Alessandro Manzoni, whom Verdi admired. The first performance, at ...

*Lifetime Achievement in Music –

Kiri Te Kanawa Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa , (; born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron, 6 March 1944) is a retired New Zealand opera singer. She had a full lyric soprano voice, which has been described as "mellow yet vibrant, warm, ample and unforced". Te ...

2011

Thursday 12 May 2011. Hosted by Myleene Klass. *Male Artist of the Year – Antonio Pappano *Female Artist of the Year – Alison Balsom *Newcomer Award –

Vilde Frang Vilde Frang Bjærke (born 19 August 1986) is a Norway, Norwegian classical music, classical violinist. Early life and education Born in Oslo, Norway, Frang began playing the violin by the Suzuki method at the age of four. In the years 1993–2 ...

*Composer of the Year –

*Critics' Award – Tasmin Little *Artist of the Decade – Il Divo *Album of the Year –

André Rieu André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu (; is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra. Rieu and his orchestra have turned classical and waltz music into a worldwide concert touring act. He r ...

Johann Strauss Orchestra The Johann Strauss Orchestra is a pops orchestra founded in the Netherlands by André Rieu in 1987. The orchestra is well known for performing classical works with a distinctly unorthodox frivolity, joking with the audience and performing all s ...

(Decca) – ''Moonlight Serenade'' *Outstanding Contribution to Music – John Barry

2012

Tuesday 2 October 2012. Hosted by Myleene Klass. *International Artist of the Year – Andrea Bocelli *Lifetime Achievement Award –

*Special Recognition Award – Classic FM (UK) *Female Artist of the Year – Nicola Benedetti *Male Artist of the Year – Vasily Petrenko *Breakthrough Artist of the Year –

Milos Karadaglic Milos or Melos (; el, label=Modern Greek, Μήλος, Mílos, ; grc, Μῆλος, Mêlos) is a volcanic Greek island in the Aegean Sea, just north of the Sea of Crete. Milos is the southwesternmost island in the Cyclades group. The ''Venus d ...

*Composer of the Year –

*Critics Award –

Benjamin Grosvenor Benjamin Grosvenor (born 8 July 1992) is a British classical pianist. Education Grosvenor was born and brought up in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. He is the youngest of five brothers. His father is an English and Drama teacher, an ...

*Album of the Year – ''

And the Waltz Goes On ''And the Waltz Goes On'' is a studio album by Dutch violinist André Rieu that features Christchurch soprano Hayley Westenra on the last track, "Dreaming of New Zealand". The album was released worldwide on 31 October 2011. It presents waltzes ...

'' *Single of the Year – " Wherever You Are"

2013

Wednesday 2 October 2013. Hosted by Myleene Klass. *International Artist of the Year – Lang Lang *Lifetime Achievement Award –

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerou ...

(posthumous) *Female Artist of the Year – Nicola Benedetti *Male Artist of the Year –

Daniel Barenboim Daniel Barenboim (; in he, דניאל בארנבוים, born 15 November 1942) is an Argentine-born classical pianist and conductor based in Berlin. He has been since 1992 General Music Director of the Berlin State Opera and "Staatskapellmeist ...

*Breakthrough Artist of the Year –

Amy Dickson Amy Dickson (born 1982) is an Australian classical saxophone player. Early life Dickson was born in Sydney. She began to play piano at the age of two, and saxophone at the age of six. She initially played 'some jazz' in her youth, but eventual ...

*Composer of the Year – Hans Zimmer *Critics Award – Jonas Kaufmann *Album of the Year –

, ''Magic of the Movies'' *Outstanding Contribution to Music; Hans Zimmer

2018

Wednesday 13 June 2018. Hosted by Myleene Klass and Alexander Armstrong *Female Artist of the Year – Renée Fleming *Male Artist of the Year – Sheku Kanneh-Mason *Group of the Year – Michael Ball &

Alfie Boe Alfred Giovanni Roncalli Boe (born 29 September 1973) is an English tenor and actor, notably performing in musical theatre. He is best known for his performances as Jean Valjean in the musical ''Les Misérables'' at the Queen's Theatre in Lo ...

*Soundtrack of the Year — The Greatest Showman OST ( Benj Pasek &

Justin Paul Justin Paul (born January 3, 1985) is an American theater and television composer and lyricist best known for his works ''The Greatest Showman'', ''La La Land'' and ''Dear Evan Hansen'', all of which he co-wrote with his songwriting partner, Ben ...

) *Critics’ Choice in association with Apple Music – Sheku Kanneh-Mason *Classic FM Album of the Year – Michael Ball &

*Classic BRITs Icon – Andrea Bocelli *Sound of Classical 2018 –

Jess Gillam Jess Gillam (born 24 May 1998) is a British saxophonist and BBC radio broadcaster from Ulverston, Cumbria. Gillam hosts ''This Classical Life'' on BBC Radio 3. Education Gillam attended the Junior Royal Northern College of Music while at se ...

*PPL Classic BRITs Breakthrough Artist of the Year – Tokio Myers *Special Recognition Award for Musical Theatre & Education –

*Lifetime Achievement Award – Dame Vera Lynn

References

External links