Music competition puts young people in tune with nature

A unique national music competition founded by a University of Derby academic that celebrates nature has announced its 2025 winners.

The Tune Into Nature Music Prize, founded by Professor Miles Richardson, aims to highlight the need for a new, stronger relationship with nature while providing vital support for young creative talent.

The competition welcomed entries from unsigned musicians and singer/songwriters aged 18 to 30, whose original work demonstrates a true collaboration with nature, including sounds of the natural world.

Two entrants of very different styles wowed the judges so much that they awarded the prize jointly.

The first winning track, Dawn by Josephine Illingworth, 23, offered total engagement in the sound world of the mountain.

The second winning track, Nightingale by Wildforms, aka Dan Cippico, turned mesmeric bird song into a drum n bass track.

Nine other artists were shortlisted for the prize, including a range of genres from Hip Hop, Rock and Pop to Jazz, Folk and Classical.

The BBC supported the shortlisting and judging process with expertise from their music teams, presenters and BBC Introducing.

The final tracks were previewed across BBC Radio networks, including Radio 1, 6 Music and Radio 3, with further airplay of track excerpts planned on Radio 2.

Professor Richardson, who is professor of human factors and nature connectedness at the University of Derby, said: “Our research has found that the relationship between young people and nature dips during teenage years and takes more than a decade to recover.

“This is a concern, as we know a close relationship with nature helps our mental wellbeing and those who are more tuned into nature are more likely to care for it.

“Given the context of the problems our climate and wildlife are facing, a closer relationship with nature is more necessary than ever before.

“We constantly hear about the climate and biodiversity crises, but fostering hope and forging a new bond with nature is part of the solution.

“The entrants of the Tune into Nature Music Prize exemplify this, offering music that not only celebrates but also inspires hope through our connection with the natural world.”

To listen to a playlist of the shortlisted tracks visit https://soundcloud.com/m1lesr/sets/tune-into-nature-music-prize.