A handful of classical musicians have been recognized in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Sir Mark Elder CBE, Music Director of the Hallé Orchestra has been made a Companion of Honour for his services to music. The composer and conductor George Benjamin CBE has been given a knighthood and Sarah Connolly CBE has been made a dame. The baritone Gerald Finley was awarded a CBE. 

The double bass-player and founder of Chineke, Europe’s first Black and minority ethnics orchestra, Chi Chi-Nwanoku MBE has been awarded an OBE, as has the baritone and composer Roderick Williams.