Elgar Society Medal Conferred on Michael Kennedy CBE
In a presentation at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on
24 February, the music critic, author and journalist Michael
Kennedy CBE was presented with The Elgar Society Medal in recognition
of his role in furthering the legacy of Sir Edward Elgar through
scholarship and publications over the last 40 years.
The medal was conferred upon Mr Kennedy by Andrew Neill, a Vice-President
of the Elgar Society, on behalf of Steven Halls, the Society’s
Chairman, during a concert by the Hallé conducted by
Sir Mark Elder. The presentation took place on the platform
at the Bridgewater Hall just before the performance of Elgar’s
First Symphony.
The Elgar Society Medal is the society’s highest honour
and recognises performers or scholars who have contributed significantly
over the last decade or more to the wider appreciation of Elgar
and his music. The award was originally open only to nominees
from outside the United Kingdom. However, the Elgar Society
widened the criteria last year to embrace citizens of the UK,
and Michael Kennedy is the first British-born recipient. His
citation was reproduced in the evening’s concert programme
and pays tribute to his body of published work, which includes
Portrait of Elgar (1968), Elgar Orchestral Music
(1970) and The Life of Elgar (2004) together with numerous
articles, reviews, programme notes and contributions to films.
Michael Kennedy, who was 85 on 19 February, joins a select assembly
of previous Elgar Society Medal recipients, including conductors
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Leonard Slatkin, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Tadaaki
Otaka, Andrew Litton and Sakari Oramo, together with the Danube
Symphony Orchestra and Elgar biographer Jerrold Northrop Moore.
‘No-one has done more to promote the Elgar cause over
such a long time and contributed so much to Elgar appreciation
and scholarship than Michael Kennedy,’ says Elgar Society
Chairman Steven Halls. ‘He combines the highest level
of scholarship with musical sympathy and a warm humanity.’
Geoff Scargill, the chairman of the Society’s North-Western
Branch said: ‘All of us in the Society thank Michael Kennedy
and hope that he will continue to champion Elgar’s cause
for many years to come.’
Formed in 1951 to encourage the study, performance and appreciation
of the music of Sir Edward Elgar and to foster research into
his life and works, the Elgar Society brings members together
at branch, national and international levels through meetings,
lectures, recitals and visits, with members' individual and
collective research contributing significantly to a greater
understanding of Elgar and his legacy. For information on Elgar
Society membership, events and resources, visit www.elgar.org
or e-mail info@elgar.org
Michael Kennedy will be talking about his life and work to Dr
John Harcup, Chairman of the West Midlands branch of the Elgar
Society, on the afternoon of Saturday 2 July at the Elgar Birthplace
Museum in Lower Broadheath, near Worcester. This is a fund-raising
event for the museum, and tickets (a minimum donation of £4
for Elgar Society members and £7 for non-members) are
available from Richard Smith via RSmith8631@aol.com
The
presentation of the Elgar Society Medal to the music critic,
author and journalist Michael Kennedy CBE by Andrew Neill, a
Vice-President of the Elgar Society. Photograph courtesy of
Malcolm Bourne.
NOTES
Michael Kennedy joined The Daily Telegraph at the age of 15
in 1941 and started contributing to the paper’s music
columns in 1950. Subsequent posts included Northern Editor (1960-1986),
Joint Chief Music Critic (1986-1989) and Chief Music Critic
of The Sunday Telegraph (1989-2005). He was on the Board of
Governors of the Royal Northern College of Music from 1971 to
2006. As a writer, Michael’s main interests are the music
of the late Romantic period, the life and works of 20th century
English composers and music-making in Manchester since the 19th
century. He was appointed OBE in 1981 and CBE in 1997.
Issued by Principal Communications on behalf of The Elgar
Society
Press Enquiries: Jill O’Sullivan
UK Tel: 01949 860126
E-Mail: jill@principalpr.co.uk
Ref: ES/PR/017
Date: Mar 2010
