Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music Names Lucy Hale Award Winners

The award supporting disabled and neurodiverse students will be presented to Ilana Tapper and Noa Nishizawa

The Royal Northern College of Music’s (RNCM) Lucy Hale Award, championing and supporting disabled and neurodiverse students has been presented to two master’s students. 

Violist Ilana Tapper and baritone horn player Noa Nishizawa will share the £5,000 award, which was established by Lucy’s parents and sister in 2024 to honor her life and work. Lucy, who was set to study a PhD in assistive technology in music at the RNCM, was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disability at a young age. 

She was the inaugural associate composer with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s disabled-led ensemble Resound project and had been a composer in residence at the National Orchestra for All.

Tapper will use the award’s funds to assist with her hypermobile fingers and hands. While the NHS has supported her with plastic splints, she will need silver ring splints to play comfortably, regularly, and for longer periods of time. The purchase of splints will ensure the correct moving of her joints to play and practice.

Nishizawa suffers from hearing loss in both ears; she has lost all hearing in her right ear and has moderate hearing loss in her left. Having purchased her hearing aids at great expense, she will now use the award funding to buy her principal instrument, the baritone horn. 

“The one thing I’ve always wanted to do is to play viola, but my disabilities like to make it tricky,” Tapper explained in the press release. ’Whenever I find a new way of adapting how I play or work, it’s absolutely wonderful because things I’ve been working on become a lot more visible in my playing or suddenly become a million times easier. I’m excited to see where I can take my playing with the new splints and I’m really grateful for the support.”

“I am really honoured to be chosen as the winner of this award,” Nishizawa added. “It is a critical moment in my journey that will allow me to purchase my own baritone horn, which I have been wishing for for ages to continue my musical career, and it will serve as a powerful reminder that people with disabilities can thrive in music and life. I hope my story encourages others to pursue their dreams, no matter the challenges they face.”

The inaugural Lucy Hale Award was presented to the Spanish pianist Gema Lu Cai. Specializing in music education, Cai was diagnosed with a learning difficulty and ADHD during her time at the RNCM. Her award enabled her to purchase her first piano.

The 2025 award announcement comes as part of RNCM Disability Week from January 27–31 featuring events by disabled, d/Deaf, and neurodivergent artists, creatives, and researchers. 

Highlights include the Music for Parkinson’s concert of bespoke new music written in collaboration with people living with Parkinson’s, Manchester Camerata with pianist Ethan David Loch, and a Lunchtimes concert from the RNCM Brass Ensemble.