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Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen’s Medal for Music 2013 gets stamp of approval

<![CDATA[The Queen has awarded operatic baritone and director Sir Thomas Allen CBE the honour of Her Majesty’s Medal for Music 2013. The accolade began in 2005 and “is awarded to an outstanding individual or group of musicians who have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation,” according to a release by the Palace.
The Queen’s Medal for Music 2013 has been announced.
 
Sir Thomas in the ninth recipient of the honour and will receive the award by Her Majesty when he attends an audience with her later in the year.
Previous recipients include The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer Bryn Terfel Jones CBE, and Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby DBE, the English soprano singer and renowned early music specialists.
“I was surprised and thrilled to hear I would receive The Queen’s Medal for Music having had so much recognition over many years. This very special award means so much to me and I’m very proud to have been selected,” Sir Thomas Allen commented upon hearing he would receive the award.
“Sir Thomas was a top opera singer who has become not only a top opera director but also a major force in outreach and musical education. Through the Samling Foundation, he has carried out utterly selfless work for charity and, above all, for young people, and it is for this achievement of a lifetime that The Queen’s Medal for Music Committee felt so strongly persuaded to award him the Medal,” noted Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
Her Majesty is Patron of many musically based patronages and charities which include: The Royal College of Music; The Royal Academy of Music; The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music; Royal Patron of The Royal School of Church Music and The Royal Northern College of Music.
 
photo credit: lizsmith via photopin cc]]>