A MUSIC teacher from Huddersfield has won a national award.

Matthew Stimpson – who lives in Crosland Moor with wife Laura – won the Secondary School Music Teacher of the Year Award at the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards.

Matthew, 28, received his award at the Music for Youth School Prom Concerts in front of thousands of people at the Royal Albert Hall.

He was given the Award by Jeremy Hunt, MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport.

Matthew is a teacher at Beckfoot School in Bingley. He studied a music degree at Huddersfield University and also did his teacher training there.

He plays tenor horn in two brass bands, Halifax LB and Knottingley Silver Band.

The Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards recognises and rewards teachers who have made a real difference to the musical life of their school and community.

Matthew will receive musical equipment from Yamaha and Avid Sibelius, for his school, as part of the award.

Matthew started at Beckfoot School in September 2004 as a newly-qualified teacher and a year later was promoted to head of music.

He co-ordinates many musical ensembles at the school and oversees around 200 instrumental lessons each week.

He said: “When I received the phone call to say I’d won I was incredibly shocked and extremely proud.

“Working with such fantastic students and staff every day makes you strive to do your best at all times.

“It really is a wonderful honour to get this award for something I absolutely love doing.”

The judges said: “Having taught for six years, Matthew has taken the music at Beckfoot School to new heights.

“Apart from the wide-ranging ensembles and the great exam results, Matthew has encouraged music for all while still instilling in his students the importance of putting on a good show.

“His experience and expertise goes beyond just the school and its students but also influences trainee teachers who come to the school.”

Classic FM’s managing director Darren Henley said: “There can be a tendency for music teachers to be the unsung heroes of the music world, yet without them many young people would not have music introduced into their childhoods in a structured way.

“Our awards have been created to reward those music teachers for their work instilling a passion for their subject into a new generation of music lovers – and none more so than Matthew.”