Crispian Steele-Perkins to receive York Early Music Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

Florence Lockheart
Monday, June 19, 2023

The British trumpeter will be honoured for making 'a significant difference to the world of early music'

Alongside his vibrant career in the classical music, film and TV worlds, Steele-Perkins also collects and restores antique trumpets upon which he performs and records. (Image courtesy of NCEM)
Alongside his vibrant career in the classical music, film and TV worlds, Steele-Perkins also collects and restores antique trumpets upon which he performs and records. (Image courtesy of NCEM)

National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), the organisation behind the annual York Early Music Festival, has announced that trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins. The award will be presented at the NCEM in York on Sunday 9 July after the festival’s live edition of BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show.

The award is designed to honour ‘major figures who have made a significant difference to the world of early music’. Accepting this award, Steele-Perkins will join a list of previous winners including soprano Dame Emma Kirkby, countertenor James Bowman, conductor and violist Jordi Savall; conductor Andrew Parrott and, most recently, violinist Catherine Mackintosh.

Steele-Perkins said: ‘I’m honoured and delighted to be receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s York Early Music Festival, joining a list of extremely impressive previous recipients. I’m very much looking forward to returning to York in July to be presented with the award and catching up with friends and colleagues at the National Centre for Early Music for what promises to be a memorable day.’

Having trained at the Guildhall School of Music in London, Steele-Perkins’ experience includes membership of the English National Opera, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra, as well as a 10-year period leading the London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble. Steele-Perkins has also featured on the soundtracks of Dr Who, The World at War and Inspector Morse as well as playing the theme tune to the Antiques Roadshow.

Among his numerous film credits, Steele-Perkins can be heard on the soundtracks of Jaws, Star Wars Episode IV, Batman, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers and six films from the James Bond series. As well as collaborating with classical stars such as Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Emma Kirkby, John Tomlinson and Bryn Terfel, he has also recorded with popular artists including Led Zeppelin, Kate Bush, Lulu, Cliff Richard, Bob Geldof and Harry Secombe.