Music industry honoured in New Year Honours List

The music industry has again been recognised in the King’s New Years honours. Of the more than 1,200 recipients, 26 were recognised for their services to music in the list released this month.

Among the honourees is Karon Wright, who received an MBE for services to music in her role as founding artistic and executive director of the Samling Institute for Young Artists. The charity, which has supported over 400 musicians through its flagship Samling Artist Programme, receives no public funding but Wright’s extensive fundraising work meands it has never charged tuition fees to those who benefit.

On receiving the award, Wright said: ‘Music and particularly singing has always been a very important part of my life. There is something very precious about the power of the human voice and it has been such a privilege to help so many young people to find their own voices. I’m immensely proud of all the artists who have passed through our programmes and to see their achievements in opera houses, concert halls and recordings across the world is an honour in itself.’

Honourees in the recording and broadcasting sphere include Atlantic Records UK executive vice-president Austin Daboh who received an OBE for services to music and Sony Music vice-president of artist and company relations Jackie Hyde, who was awarded an MBE for services to the music industry. British presenter and producer Jasmine Dotiwala received an OBE for services to broadcasting, music and equality, diversity and inclusion while BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Stephen Lamacq received and MBE or services to broadcasting and to music venues.

Hyde said: ‘Receiving this recognition feels overwhelming and I never thought an honour such as this would be given to me. When I joined CBS Records/Sony Music back in 1979 I couldn’t have imagined that I would be in the industry 45 years later or that I would receive an MBE. It’s been an incredible and very happy career in the business, which I am very proud to be a part of, and a privilege to have worked with such brilliant artists, who I so very much admire.’

Music educators are also rewarded in this year’s honours. Richard Frederick Moore was awarded an MBE for services to music education and preservation in East Sussex while Peter Dillworth Young received an MBE for services to music and drama education in London and Rock Choir founder Caroline Redman Lusher Founder was awarded an MBE for her services to music and to charity. English saxophonist, composer, educator and record producer Professor John Harle was awarded an OBE for his services to music, and lecturer, broadcaster and jazz trumpeter Dr Linley Patrick Hamilton received his MBE for services to the music industry in Northern Ireland.

Janet Elston, who founded Triggshire Wind Orchestra and co-founded the Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra was awarded an MBE for services to young people and to music, while musician, teacher and Poole Society for Young Musicians trustee Alison Kay received an MBE for services to the arts and to young people. Sarah Godwin received an OBE for services to children and families in recognition of her work as founder of multi-sensory musical event charity Hartbeeps Music and Mavis West received an MBE for her services to ‘adults and children with additional needs through the provision of music’ as founder and trustee of the Yorkshire Association for Music and Special Educational Needs.

Musical theatre education was also recognised, with Sawston Youth Drama founding team member Mark Long receiving an MBE for services to musical theatre for young people in Cambridgeshire and Youth Onstage director Deb Lowe receiving an MBE for services to the genre in the West Midlands. In Northern Ireland, Ulster Youth Orchestra general manager Paula Klein’s MBE was given in recognition of her services to young people in classical music and bagpiper Robert Kirkland was awarded an MBE for services to the music industry as pipe major of William Kerr Memorial Pipe Band. Bagpiper Christopher Armstrong also received an MBE for services to music as pipe major of the ScottishPower Pipe Band.

In Cambridgeshire, Somersham Town Band musical director David Chambers received an MBE for services to Music and to the community, while in the West Midlands musician Balbir Singh was given his MBE for services to Bhangra music and to Punjabi culture. Major (Rtd) Kevin Lamb was awarded an MBE for his services to music as founder of the Wind Band Association, a charity dedicated to providing opportunities for adult wind band players, and Richard Parry, accompanist of Rhondda’s Pendyrus Male Choir, was given his MBE for services to music and to choral singing.

In Edinburgh, St Giles' Cathedral organist and master of the music Michael Harris received an MBE for services to music, while in Birmingham Peter Cecil How was awarded an MBE for voluntary and philanthropic services to music.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘Each and every day, ordinary people go out and do extraordinary things for their communities. They represent the very best of the UK and that core value of service which I put at the centre of everything this government does. The New Year Honours List celebrates more of these unsung heroes, and I thank them for their incredible contribution.’