Hons and rebels in Queen’s Birthday Honours
mainThe pianist Imogen Cooper, 71 (pic), has been made a Dame of the British Empire.
Julian Lloyd Webber has been made OBE for his term as principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The same honour goes to composer Eleanor Alberga.
Less conventional is the OBE for Michael Volpe, quirky founder of Opera Holland Park. That honour is shared with John Summers, retired manager of the Halle Orchestra.
The next-grade MBE is awarded to Berlin Philharmonic horn Sarah Willis and saxophonist Jess Gillam, along with Sally Alexander, founder of Birmingham’s first specialist music school and tenor Allan Clayton.
And Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who deserves all the honours in the world.
All hail.
Huw Watkins and Allan Clayton also got Awards
Mostly as a result of having friends in higher places and shouting loud enough for those who just were doing ther job!!
Agreed, and the awards themselves are little more than gimcrack, Ruritanian baubles.
Is Jess Gillham experienced and old enough to receive an award?…. and why?
And not to forget congratulations to the wonderful tenor Allan Clayton for services to opera. So well deserved. Perhaps he should have 2- one for lieder as well..
A great day for Alfred Brendel.
JS might have played a major part in the rejuvenation of the Hallé but he wouldn’t win any awards for people skills.
Would have thought Lyn Fletcher was a worthy contender, and certainly ahead of Jess Gillham
Pleased to see awards for those like Dame Imogen in recognition of long and distinguished careers.
Congratulations to Sally Alexander in Birmingham for years of battling obstructive bureaucracy and succeeding against all the odds.
An OBE for JLW and a CBE for Rick Wakeman suggests that musical appreciation does not rank high with the honours committee(s).
Yes it does
…but Jess Gillam, with her publicly-stated republican views, will of course refuse the honour (not)?
Noel Tredinnick, Director of Music at All Souls church opposite BBC Broadcasting House
Very average(Cooper, that is).