Judith Weir awarded Queen's Medal for Music 2007
January 2008
Congratulations to Professor Judith Weir who has been awarded the Queen's Medal for Music 2007. Judith Weir received the Medal from The Queen at a ceremony at the Royal Academy of Music on 13 December 2007.
The Queen's Medal is one of the UK's most distinguished awards and Judith Weir is the first composer to be so honoured. The previous two recipients were, in 2005, the conductor Sir Charles Mackerras (Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University, 2003), followed by the singer Bryn Terfel in 2006.
The Press secretary to The Queen released the following statement on 12 December 2007: "The Queen has approved the award of Her Majesty's Medal for Music for the year 2007 to Judith Weir. Accompanied by the Master of The Queen's Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Ms Weir will be presented with the Medal by the Queen at the Royal Academy of Music, on Thursday, 13th December 2007. The purpose of this award is to raise the general profile of music within the UK and to reward individuals who have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation. Winners of this annual award may be of any nationality but they must have had a major influence on the musical life of the UK."
The decision on eligibility for the Medal is made by a Music Committee under the chairmanship of the Master of the Queen's Music. The Committee members are Michael Berkeley, Nicholas Kenyon, William Lyne, the Honourable Sir Humphrey Maud, Richard Morrison and Lord Moser. The 75mm medal was designed by the Welsh artist, Bethan Williams, and includes on the reverse three figures representing composition, song and instrument. The edge of the medal, cast in silver, bears the legend "What passion cannot music raise and quell", taken from John Dryden's poem, 'A Song for St. Cecilia's Day'.