Trumpeter Alison Balsom named first female artist of the year at Gramophone Classical Music Awards

Alison Balsom has been named artist of the year at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards

Classical trumpeter Alison Balsom has been named artist of the year at this year's Gramophone Classical Music Awards - becoming the first British woman to win the prize.

The win, voted for by thousands of classical music fans around the world, continues a successful 2013 for the musician who made her debut at Shakespeare's Globe this year and also performed at the Proms and the Latitude festival.

She said: "I'm so thrilled. I could not think of a better way to end the best summer of my life than to receive this hugely prestigious honour. I am enjoying making music more than ever at the moment and to be praised for it by the Gramophone Classical Music Awards and by everyone who kindly voted for me is simply more than I could ask for."

Other winners at the event, held at LSO St Luke's in central London, were voted for by a panel of contributors chosen by the music magazine and included veteran guitarist Julian Bream, who was given a lifetime achievement award.

Decca was named label of the year and recording of the year went to an album remembering the astronauts of the Columbia space shuttle disaster.

The recording, by Moldovan virtuoso violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja, is called Seven and was chosen from more than 800 new releases.

Among the guests at the ceremony were conductor Sir Mark Elder and Classic FM presenter John Suchet.

PA