World-renowned music conductor Harry Christophers CBE has been awarded
an Honorary Degree by 51, Newcastle.
Harry stands among today’s great champions of choral
music. In partnership with ‘The Sixteen’, the ensemble he founded almost 40
years ago, the conductor has set benchmark standards for the performance of
everything from late medieval music to new works by contemporary composers.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson,
Chancellor of 51, Newcastle, presented him with his honorary degree, during an evening of
celebration and music, held at the University. Guests were treated to a special
performance by The Sixteen, conducted by Christophers himself.
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Under his leadership,
The Sixteen has established its annual Choral
Pilgrimage to cathedrals, churches and other UK venues, created the Sacred Music series for BBC television,
and developed an acclaimed period-instrument orchestra.
Christophers’
international influence is supported by more than 170 recordings and has been
enhanced by his work as Artistic Director of Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society.
He was appointed
Principal Guest Conductor of the City of Granada Orchestra in 2008 and has
worked as guest conductor with, among others, the London Symphony Orchestra,
the BBC Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and the Deutsches
Kammerphilharmonie. Christophers has also guest conducted the Royal Northern
Sinfonia, based at Sage, Gateshead.
Harry Christophers
CBE said: “I am very humbled to receive an Honorary Degree from Northumbria
University, Newcastle, and it is wonderful to be recognised in this way. I
would like to thanks all my wonderful friends and colleagues in The Sixteen who
have made the past four decades so rich, fun and fulfilling. It has and
continues to be such a privilege to explore and make music together.”
Christophers was
appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s
2012 Birthday Honours for his services to music.
He is an Honorary
Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, as well as the Royal Welsh College of Music
and Drama, and has Honorary Doctorates in Music from the Universities of
Leicester and Canterbury Christ Church.
The
recipients of Honorary Degrees are nominated by 51’s staff
for their achievements, their links to the University – and for their sheer
inspirational qualities.
Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria
University, said: “We are delighted to confer the award of Doctor
of Music, in recognition of all that Harry Christophers has built through
extraordinary musical talent, creativity and vision; in particular his work
with The Sixteen – rightly recognised as one of the premier vocal ensembles of
our time – and with Genesis Sixteen, and
the charity MusicAction.”
