UK Music Returns to Liverpool’s Sound City to Celebrate Outstanding MAP Graduate Awards

05.06.2025: UK Music held its annual awards, celebrating the best of the Music Academic Partnership (MAP) network, at Sound City in Liverpool. The Outstanding MAP Graduate Awards (OMGs) have run since 2016 and celebrate the amazing talent nurtured by our MAP institutions, as well as celebrating the tutors that help it happen.

This year was the third year that UK Music have partnered with Sound City to deliver the OMGs, with every year building on the lasts' success. Held in the venue Spanish Caravan, on Thursday 1st May, the evening offered a fantastic opportunity for the nominees, tutors, UK Music members, and special guests to network and celebrate the successes. One month on, we feel it's time to reflect on the event, and the amazing people that made it so special.

The awards were presented by an array of industry professionals, with Dr Oli Morris of UK Music facilitating. Dave Monks of BBC Introducing Merseyside shared in presenting the awards, alongside singer-songwriter and streamer Emma McGann, Nina Radojewski, AIM and Chair of UK Music's Education & Skills Committee, as well as Andy Booth of UK Music Futures Group.

With all scores being so close this year, we saw two lucky winners of this year's OMG Award; Corinne Stewart, Artist Promoter & Relations (EMEA) at Ticketmaster Music, graduate of Birmingham City University, and Dora Kmezić, Concerts & Recordings Co-ordinator and Classical Recording Producer, graduate of University of Liverpool.

Corinne said: "I'm proud to be recognised alongside so many talented alumni-it's a real full-circle moment."

Dora said: ""Being nominated for the OMG Award is truly thrilling. It is so easy to overlook how much you've achieved throughout your career, and this nomination has given me the opportunity to reflect on how far I've come since graduating and everything I've worked towards - it is wonderful to see that my efforts are being noticed."

The Runners-Up were Alfie McIntyre - Birmingham City University, Emma Forster - Leeds Beckett University, and Jack Joy - University of Liverpool. Special Mentions were Akira Oniwinde - Leeds Beckett University, Alice Tansley - University of Gloucestershire, and George Tolmie - Buckinghamshire New University. Further details on all nominees and info on the Special Mentions can also be seen on the nominees page.

The continuation of the OM3 Awards also came out in full force, celebrating those individuals coming through level 3 or access to Higher Education courses. The winners were Amy Barnes, Sound Engineer & Co Director of Sparrow Sound and Light LTD, from UAL (Coleg Cambria), and Carrick Moran, Events471 and 471Routes CIC, from LIPA.
This year's Runner-Up was Leoni Conway - UAL (Bradford School of Art). Special Mentions were Jude & Mercedes Feldt - UAL (Chesterfield College).

It was also the third year of our popular MAP Tutor of the Year Award (MAPTY). We ask all nominees to tell us what a difference their tutor made to them on their journey, and the feedback is always exceptionally heart-warming. This year's Winner was Dr Matt Grimes of Birmingham City University.

Some feedback that Dr Grimes received was: ""Being taught and mentored by Matt Grimes has had a lasting impact on both my time at university and my career since graduating. His ongoing support, encouragement, and generosity with his time gave me the confidence and drive to pursue every opportunity-something I continue to carry with me. Matt was the first teacher who truly believed in me, and that belief made all the difference." - Corinne Stewart.
This year's Runner-Up was Alex Stevenson from Leeds Beckett University, and James Brister of ICMP took home the Special Mention Award.

Finally, the awards concluded with handing out UK Music's latest award; the Outstanding Contribution to Engagement through Music Award (OCEM). This new award shines a light on those individuals and organisations making a positive impact on individuals and / or communities through music.
This year's winner, our first ever OCEM winner, was Katie-Louise Biginton from Rocksteady.
Kate stated: "I am SO honoured to be nominated for this award, it means so much to me that Rocksteady have put me forward, as providing children with opportunities to do music is a massive passion of mine and feel so honoured that my work has been recognised!"

The Runner-Up for this award was Circle of Light, overseen by Patricia Gardiner and Kate Rounding. Circle of Light is a Youth Music-funded project, focusing on providing inclusive and high-quality music-making experiences for all young people, especially those who may not otherwise have access.
This year's Special Mention was Alvin Leon, a music teacher at Hereward College, Coventry, supporting learners with special needs to explore creativity and potential careers in music using diverse techniques and strategies.

The event came to a close with food provided by the legendary Indian street food vendor Bundobust, a DJ, and networking. From 8pm we partnered with UK Music member AIM to host a wider networking drinks at the venue, which was a huge success and a lovely way to round off another successful OMG Awards.

Read more about the nominees and winners here: Outstanding MAP Graduate Awards 2025 - UK Music