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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]]>
