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Musical honours in Queen’s New Years list

By | Published on Monday 31 December 2012

Kate Bush

Although sports dominated this time round as the Queen opted for an Olympics Special with her annual New Years Honours list, Her Maj still found some time to slap the backs and ruffle the hair of some notable music people too.

Artists wise, the marvellous Kate Bush was declared a Commander Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire, while in the classical domain violinist Nicola Benedetti became a Member Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire. Or maybe I should just say Bush is a CBE and Benedetti an MBE, otherwise this could be a very long article.

Behind the scenes Dr Michael Berman, chairman of the Southbank Sinfonia, also became a CBE; John Butt, Professor Of Music at the University Of Glasgow, became an OBE; and Gilly Love, Creative Director of Sage Gateshead’s Silver Programme of musical participation events for the over 50s, Jillian Johnson, Artistic Director Of Concerts at the University Of Leeds, Vincent Hayes, founder of London’s Brick Lane Music Hall, and Judy Martin of the Young Person’s Concert Foundation all got themselves MBEs.

Elsewhere, Darren Henley, MD of Classic FM, and Fran Nevrkla, Chairman and former CEO of collecting society PPL, both got OBEs, as did Pauline Etkin and one-time EMI chief David Munns, the latter two for their work for Nordoff Robbins; Etkins being the music therapy charity’s CEO, and Munns a longtime supporter of the organisation, and since 2010 its Chairman. And finally, Nick Williams, Principal of the BRIT School from 2001 to July this year, was knighted.

Commenting on the knighthood for Williams, Geoff Taylor, boss of record label trade body the BPI, which supports the BRIT School, told CMU: “Nick is thoroughly deserving of this honour and we are delighted he has been officially recognised for his services to education. His commitment to the BRIT School and the development of its students over the last twenty years has been second to none. We are proud of the work Nick has led with dedication, drive and passion, in building a centre of artistic excellence from scratch whilst developing and maintaining the school’s outstanding academic record year-on-year”.



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