Violinist Catherine Mackintosh to receive York Early Music Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

York Early Music Festival (YEMF) has announced that, following a two-year wait while the festival took place online, violinist Catherine Mackintosh will be presented with the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival next month.

The York Early Music Lifetime Achievement Award honours major figures who have made a significant difference to the world of early music. Mackintosh will be presented with her award by violinist Kati Debretzeni at the BBC Radio 3’s live YEMF broadcast of the Early Music Show on 10 July.

Delma Tomlin MBE, director of the NCEM and YEMF administrative director said: ‘I’m delighted that Catherine will finally be receiving this award after a rather long wait! Her wonderful career, not just as a performer, but also as a mentor and teacher, has had an extraordinary impact on the world of early music.’

As an educator, Mackintosh has influenced many generations of instrumentalists at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague, and on courses world-wide. Having developed her understanding of baroque music through consort-playing, Mackintosh led orchestras including the Academy of Ancient Music, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, which she also co-founded.

Mackintosh said: ‘I ask myself …Is it really an achievement to have enjoyed 50 years doing what I love with people I love and admire? Only in the sense of having survived this long! ’

You can find out more about the York Early Music Lifetime Achievement Award including a list of past recipients here.

The theme of this year’s York Early Music Festival, starting next month (8 to 16 July), is Connections. The festival presents a programme featuring interconnecting composers, as well as focusing on the human connections that hold us together. You can find out more about the festival, including tickets, here.