Towards the end of his extraordinary playing career as an oboe soloist and member of various orchestras, Neil Black OBE was able to devote more and more time to helping and supporting young musicians at the start of their careers. To this end, he became Artistic Director of the Kirckman Concert Society and advisor to the Tunnell Trust. Drawing on his wealth of experience, Neil encouraged and inspired young players with his own inimitable brand of humour. An annual award in his name seems an appropriate way to provide a legacy for future generations of woodwind players, and it will do much to keep alive memories of a great musician and a wonderful man.
Money donated to the Countess of Munster Musical Trust in Neil’s memory has been used to establish the Neil Black Award, presented annually to an outstanding woodwind player to support their postgraduate studies and help them as they move towards a professional musical career. The award-winner is selected by the Trustees during the study award auditions each spring.
Previous recipients include oboists Manou Rolland (2018), Hannah Condliffe (2019), and Polly Bartlett (2021), bassoonists Olivia Palmer-Baker (2020) and Siping Guo (2023), clarinettists Isaac Prince (2022) and Emily Crook (2025), and flautist Maria Filippova (2024). This year, the award was won by flautist Jamie McClenaghan (2026).
See below for ways to donate to help support the continuation of the Neil Black Award.
