YAMawards
The Laureates
Circle.
Discover the YAMawards nominees and winners celebrating the very best live music productions for young audiences from around the globe.
69 productions across 16 years
2025
6 productions
Austria2025 Best Large Ensemble · Winner"What on earth"
Cornelia Voglmayr2025 Best Large Ensemble
Belgium2025 Best Opera · WinnerA la vie, à la mort! - forever.
Helene Bracke2025 Best Opera (Powered by RESEO)
France2025 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerCavalcade en Cocazie
RédèR Nouhaj2025 Best Small Ensemble
Israel2025 Public Choice · WinnerMifletset Baktanah
Ady Cohen2025 Public Choice Award
Serbia2025 Best School Concert · WinnerNext Station
Meraki2025 Ebbe Høyrup Best School Concert
Ireland2025 Best Participatory Project · WinnerThe Sound of the Northside
James Bingham2025 Best Participatory Project
2024
7 productions
Finland2024 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerAntti Paalanen & Wild Accordion
Antti PaalanenMusician and composer Antti Paalanen (b.
Portugal2024 Public Choice · Winner2024 Best Opera · WinnerOrnitopera
Companhia de Música TeatralInspired by the “The Conference of the Birds”, a 12th-century poem by the Persian poet Farid Ud-din Attar, Ornitópera is a music-theatre performance designed for the little ones and also for the adults they usually bring with them.
2024 YAMawards — Best Production for Young Children · WinnerSmall Things Sing
North Star Music LabA gentle sensory concert inspired by tiny movements and quiet sounds.
UK2024 Best Participatory Project · WinnerThe Moon is Listening
Karen Gillingham‘The Moon is Listening’ is a life-enhancing project supporting inter-cultural dialogue by using digital technology to bring young people together.
Norway2024 Best Large Ensemble · WinnerThe Philharmonic Moves
Oslo-filharmonienMusic and movement are the themes when the Oslo Philharmonic, in collaboration with dancer and choreographer Kyrre Texnæs, invites to a school concert at the Oslo Concert Hall.
- 2024 YAMawards — Best Small Ensemble · Winner
The Secret Life of Noise
Electric SeedsA playful electronic concert where ordinary noises become extraordinary music.
Denmark / Austria2024 Best School Concert · WinnerWurst-Case Scenario
Funky Curry Wurst BrothersWurst-Case Scenario is the new, highly energetic, rhythm & comedy tour de force by the Funky Currywurst Brothers, the two clownesque master drummers and multi-instrumentalists Peter Nielsen from Copenhagen & Johannes Bohun from Vienna who met back in 2001 in London at the auditio
2023
6 productions
South Africa2023 Best Participatory Project · WinnerAt Your Doorstep/Vor Deiner Tür
Windybrow Arts Centre/Market Theatre FoundationONE WORLD – WE ARE CONNECTED, BUT ARE WE EQUAL?
Denmark2023 Public Choice · WinnerHeartBeat
HeartBeat GroupHeartBeat Group is three professional and enthusiastic percussion experts playing live music on anything!
United Kingdom2023 Best Large Ensemble · Winnerin Sync
MishMash Productions and the Scottish Ensemblein Sync is a show for young people featuring an explosion of live music from twelve phenomenal string players.
Finland2023 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerMusiikkisirkus Avain hukassa
Musiikkisirkus Avain hukassaThe performance Avain hukassa (The Lost Key) combines live music, contemporary circus and animated illustrations.
United Kingdom2023 Best Opera · WinnerThe Wish Gatherer
English Touring OperaThe Wish Gatherer is the first instalment in English Touring Opera's trilogy of Climate Change operas.
Norway2023 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerTrio Oro in Concert
Trio OroTRIO ORO in Concert is custom-made to keep the audience engaged.
2022
7 productions
Norway2022 Best Digital Production · WinnerNOBELLUM
Oslo Philarmonic Orchestra and David ChocronNobellum is a digital production, a "film concert", which attempts to use music to tell the story, accompanied by motion graphics and video to give an artistic impression of the Nobel Peace Prize, its origin, some of its most significant winners, and the breadth and depth of thei
France2022 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerOUM PA PA!
M'lart ProductionA real miniature orchestra, full of humour and fantasy!
United Kingdom2022 Best Opera · WinnerPAY THE PIPER
Glyndebourne Youth OperaPay the Piper was a new commission for Glyndebourne Youth Opera (GYO) and featured at the core of our programme in 2022.
Norway2022 Best Large Ensemble · WinnerTHE ALEHOUSE SESSIONS
BarokksolisteneIn The Alehouse sessions, Barokksolistene recreate some of the atmosphere that existed in pubs and inns in London in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Iceland2022 Best Participatory Project · WinnerTHE UPBEAT
HarpaThe Upbeat - Composition Award for Children and Youth gives young people the opportunity to submit a musical composition or a draft of a composition and receive support to work out their ideas with artists.
Norway2022 Best School Concert · WinnerThousand buttons and four strings
Almir & DanielA “Thousand buttons and four strings” is a story about two friends: Daniel on violin from Serbia and Almir on accordion from Bosnia.
Hong Kong2022 Public Choice · WinnerWILD (The Musical)
City Chamber Orchestra of Hong KongWILD (The Musical) is a multidisciplinary Broadway-style musical production set in the jungle with a classical orchestra and conductor cast as part of the story and the theatrical action.
2021
5 productions
Spain2021 Public Choice · Winner2021 Best Large Ensemble · WinnerDISCONCERTO
ORTHEMIS ORCHESTRAMore spectacular than ever!!!
Belgium2021 Best Opera · WinnerHUSH - HENRY'S DREAM MACHINE
ZONZO COMPAGNIEVia a miniature version of an old theatre, we dive into the world of Henry Purcell.
Belgium2021 Best Digital Production · WinnerNOISY NEIGHBOURS
ZONZO COMPAGNIEZonzo Compagnie together with Stijn Grupping and Ine Van Baelen (Post from Hessdalen) and a diverse gang of children and musicians, we filmed the first swinging series: Noisy Neighbours.
Belgium2021 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerPETIT CONCERT À L'AUBE
COMPAGNIE LA BULLE À SONSSmall concert in the Aube: After "Concertino pannolino", concert for babies before the march, the company Bulle à Sons invites children from 2.5 years old, to live a musical journey from dawn to dusk where the proximity is the priority.
Austria2021 Best Participatory Project · WinnerUTOPERA: DER LETZTE TAG
WIENER STAATSOPERThe participatory youth opera "Der Letzte Tag" (The Final Day) tells the story of a future dystopian society in the year 2084 that has ignored all warnings, outrages, and protests from the past (2021) by the young generation and continued to take its course without consciously fa
2020
4 productions
Spain2020 Best Opera · Winner2020 Public Choice · WinnerLa Isla
Nuria Núñez Hierro, Rafael R. Villalobos, María Royo, Javier Povedano, Víctor Fajardo, B3: Brouwer Trio and Alejandro GarcíaLa Isla (The Island) is a chamber opera of about an hour in length for audiences from the age of eleven.
Portugal2020 Best Participatory Project · WinnerMurmuratorium
Companhia de Música TeatralMurmuratorium is both a musical-theatre “performance” and an installation that can be explored in a free and informal manner.
Norway2020 Best Large Ensemble · WinnerSound of Climate
Den Kulturelle Skolesekken, Oslo-Philharmonic and David Chocron«Klangen av klima» (“Sound of Climate”) is a production commissioned by the Oslo Philharmonic from video-artist David Chocron premiered in January 2020.
Netherlands2020 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerTickle
Oorkaan, Dutch National Opera & Ballet and Philharmonie LuxembourgIn Tickle three musical characters from an art installation, come alive.
2019
5 productions
United Kingdom2019 Best Participatory Project · WinnerAgreed
GlyndebourneAlex, leader of Orientis, has divided his people, casting out many to love on the island of Aquila.
Belgium2019 Best Large Ensemble · WinnerCopper & Skin
Zonzo CompagnieCopper & Skin is an ode to the strength and solace of music.
Germany2019 Best Opera · WinnerRomeo's Passion
UmculoRomeo’s Passion is a chamber opera and a coming out story.
Germany2019 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerThe Fluteman Show
Gabor VosteenIn THE FLUTEMAN SHOW Gabor rises to his vision to save the world with the most considerable instrument of humankind: the recorder.
Belgium2019 Public Choice · WinnerThelonious
Zonzo CompagnieZonzo Compagnie’s Mile(s)tones, a journey through the universe of Miles Davis, was an international hit and has toured all over the world.
2018
4 productions
United Kingdom2018 Best Opera · WinnerA Shoe Full of Stars
Opera Schmopera & Gestalt ArtsA Shoe Full of Stars follows the journey of Splodge, an ordinary teenager who, after a terrorist attack, suddenly finds himself on a bizarre, magical island where conflict is bubbling up everywhere, and nothing is as it seems.
Sweden2018 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerBach in the Street
Vargkatten ProduktionWith its mesmerising staging and its use of musical juxtaposition, Bach in the Street explores concepts from cultural identity and people displacement to life and death in a format that is simultaneously serious and light-hearted.
France2018 Public Choice · WinnerMaputo - Mozambique
Compagnie TGMaputo - Mozambique critiques certain rituals and African artistic practices.
Norway2018 Best Large Ensemble · Winner2018 Production of the Year · WinnerShadow Music
Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and OorkaanWhen a young boy goes to sleep, his room comes to life.
2017
4 productions
Hong Kong2017 Public Choice · WinnerBUG SYMPHONY
CITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF HONG KONGBug Symphony - The Orchestra-Theatre Spectacular tells the story of two human explorers who stumble upon a bug orchestra conducted by a praying mantis (Maestro Mantis) in the depths of the rainforest.
Finland2017 Best Opera · WinnerIHMEPOIKA A
FINNISH NATIONAL OPERA & BALLETA little child refugee looses his parents and finds himself in Finland.
France2017 Best Small Ensemble · Winner2017 Production of the Year · WinnerLa Balle Rouge
DENIS GARéNAUXThe scene opens with a small red ball suspended in mid-air.
Norway2017 Best Large Ensemble · WinnerThe Planets
ROYAL NORWEGIAN BAND / VESTFOLD COUNTY COUNCIL / KULTURTANKENThe stars and planets have mystified and inspired humans since the dawn of creation.
2016
5 productions
Norway2016 Production of the Year · Winner2016 Best Small Ensemble · WinnerA Violinist - Space - and the Audience
Rikskonsertene/KulturtankenThe aim is through non verbal communication to point out a functional alternative and perhaps more functional way to present classical music to young people.
Belgium2016 Public Choice · WinnerBerBerio
Wouter Van Looy / Zonzo CompagnieA performance for a young audience about the mythical composer Luciano Berio and Cathy Berberian for 6+.
Netherlands2016 Best Large Ensemble · WinnerCreatures
ISH - Dance Collective and the Dutch BalletorkestAn adventurous journey through 500 million years of evolution, with 45 musicians from Het Balletorkest and 10 performers from ISH.
Denmark2016 Best Opera · WinnerMy father and Angry man
ZeBU and Musikteatret SAUM´My father and Angry Man´ is a poetic and fairylike children’s opera with live music, addressing a difficult subject – the battered family.
Netherlands2016 Best Opera · WinnerRoodhapje (Little Red Riding Food)
Holland OperaWhile reading the adaption of the famous fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood by Imme Dros, we were inspired by the role of the wolf.
2015
4 productions
South Africa2015 Best Opera · WinnerComfort Ye
UmculoComfort Ye is a Music Theatre based on autobiographical texts and songs written by young South African singers.
Netherlands2015 Best Small Ensemble · Winner2015 Production of the Year · WinnerGlimp
OorkaanWhat do colours sound like?
Sweden2015 Best Large Ensemble · WinnerKryp
CAMILLA EKELÖF AND MALIN HÜLPHERS / REGIONTEATER VÄSTIn “Kryp”, one can experience cool dance and exciting contemporary jazz music.
Portugal2015 Public Choice · WinnerProjeto Tartaruga
Miguel Nabais Pernes / Foco Musical“And, by cleaning the Sea, they really found a treasure!
2014
4 productions
France2014 Public Choice · WinnerChat Perché
Daniel Sultan (Arts Diffusion)Chat Perché by Daniel Sultan (Arts Diffusion), Public Choice winner at the 2014 YAMawards.
Belgium2014 Public Choice · WinnerPrincess Turandot
Walpurgis vzwPrincess Turandot by Walpurgis vzw, Public Choice winner at the 2014 YAMawards.
Norway2014 Best Opera · WinnerStormen
Norwegian National Opera and BalletStormen by Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, Best Opera winner at the 2014 YAMawards.
Sweden2014 Production of the Year · WinnerThe Rhythm in You
Smålands Musik & TeaterThe Rhythm in You by Smålands Musik & Teater, Production of the Year winner at the 2014 YAMawards.
2013
2 productions
2012
3 productions
Italy2012 Public Choice · WinnerDamadaka
DamadakaDamadaka by Damadaka, Public Choice winner at the 2012 YAMawards.
Luxembourg2012 Public Choice · WinnerDrumblebee
Philharmonie LuxembourgDrumblebee by Philharmonie Luxembourg, Public Choice winner at the 2012 YAMawards.
Belgium2012 Production of the Year · WinnerListen To The Silence
Zonzo CompagnieListen To The Silence by Zonzo Compagnie, Production of the Year winner at the 2012 YAMawards.
2010
2 productions
Argentina2010 Public Choice · WinnerAround the World in a Violin
Sergio FeferovichAround the World in a Violin by Sergio Feferovich, Public Choice winner at the 2010 YAMawards.
South Africa2010 Production of the Year · WinnerCrazy for Jazz
Jazz for JuniorsCrazy for Jazz by Jazz for Juniors, Production of the Year winner at the 2010 YAMawards.
