In 1890 it was decided to award a solid Gold Medal in turn triennially to a student from the RAM, RCM and GSMD. However, when the cost of this was assessed, it was agreed that the presentation would instead be of a Silver Medal. The presentation of a Silver Medal to those three Music Schools was subsequently extended to other Conservatoires and Military Establishments. Click Here for further detail and past winners of these Medals.
The first presentation of a solid Gold Medal, was to The Prince of Wales in 1893. A further solid Gold Medal was presented to King George V in 1920. These are the only solid Gold Medals ever to have been awarded by the Company.
Silver Gilt Medals were presented to Sir Homewood Crawford in 1905 and in 1907 to Charles Thomas Daniel Crews, both for special service to the Company. Sir Homeward is shown left in a signed photograph celebrating his year as Master (1906-1907).
Special Presentations of the Company's Silver Medal (ie the same Medal as the one presented to students at the Conservatoires) for particular generosity, services to music and/or the Company have also been made since 1903.
However, following a decision by the Court in 2008, the award given to distinguished Musicians and to Company members was changed from a Silver Medal to one of Silver Gilt. This was to differentiate its purpose from those medals awarded to Conservatoires and the Armed Forces.
Thus, the Silver Medal remains for those young musicians at Conservatoires etc, while the Company honours distinguished performers (such as Alfred Brendel) and its own members, (such as Pastmaster Adrian Davis) with the new 'Gold' Medal, which since 2010 has actually been made of Silver Gilt.
Further, all living recipients of the Silver Medal prior to 2008 are now deemed to have actually received a Gold Medal and this is reflected in the Company Year books.
Listed below are all the winners of the Company's Gold Medal. Once again, those awards up to 2008 would originally have been 'Special Presentations of the Silver Medal' (now re-designated as Gold, but not physically replaced), but those after that point actually received the Company's new Gold Medal (which are physically Silver Gilt).
1903:
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Sir Walter Parratt and Sir Hubert Parry; in recognition of their services as Adjudicators for the Coronation Prize March (Click Here for further information on the Coronation Prize March)
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Charles Ernest Rube; in recognition of his gift of a Loving Cup to the Company.
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Thomas Lea Southgate, Cyril Arthur Pearson and James Munro Coward; in recognition of their services in connection with the Coronation March.
1905:
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Arthur Frederick Hill, John Frederick Randall Stainer and Colonel Thomas Bradney Shaw-Hellier; in recognition of services in connection with the Tercentenary Exhibition.
Arthur Frederick Hill. Master 1911
1905
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William Hayman Cummings and Carl Hentschel in recognition of services in connection with 'the Masque of the Golden Tree'. See much more information on these awards by clicking here.
1907:
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Sir Charles Santley; in honour of his Jubilee year in Music (50 years since his first appearance on the London stage). Shown below is the actual medal, miniature and box as presented to Santley at Stationers' Hall on 28th October (contrary to the date engraved on the box - see record of the Court Meeting on that day in Minute Book 9).
Grateful thanks to Anna Maria Barry at the Liverpool Record Office for these images
1911:
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Charles Albert Edwin Harriss; in recognition of the important services rendered by him to British Music.
1914:
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William Henry Ash; in recognition of his services to the Company and of his general assistance in the foundation of the Benevolent Fund.
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Claudius James Ash; in recognition of his great assistance in the foundation of the Benevolent Fund.
1916:
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Lt. Albert Edward Williams, Bandmaster Grenadier Guards; for services to music.
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Miss Phyllis Lett; for services to Music
1920:
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Walter Damrosch; for services to Music
1945:
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Lieut. David Crawley, Royal Papuan Constabulary; for raising and training a Band of Papuan natives and subsequent distinguished conduct in face of the Japanese Invasion of New Guinea.
1966:
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Prof. Nketia, Director of the Legon Orchestra of Ghana; for services to Music.
1967:
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Brigadier Henry Alastair Fergusson Crewdson, Clerk to the Company; for services to the Company and Music.
Brigadier H.A.F.Crewdson
Master - 1962-3
Clerk - 1930-67
1978:
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Gerald Derek Lockett, Treasurer; for services to the Company.
1988:
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William Richard Inge Crewdson, Clerk to the Company; for services to the Company.
1993:
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Ronald Francis Walter Ficker, Treasurer; for services to the Company
1999:
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Anthony Benno John Stanley Rubinstein; for services to the Company in encouraging and accomplishing some notable benefactions.
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Sir David Willcocks; for services to Music.
2000:
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The Rt Hon the Earl of Harewood (Liveryman) for services to arts administration, notably in the field of opera
2002:
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Professor Robin Orr (Liveryman) for services to musical composition
2002:
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Pastmaster Jeffery Lockett for services to jazz and opera
2002:
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John Dankworth (Liveryman) for services to jazz
2003:
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Michael Berkeley for services to musical composition
2003:
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Richard Hickox for services to music as a conductor
2004:
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Ruggero Ricci for services as a violinist
2006:
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Sir Charles Mackerras for services to music as a conductor
2008:
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Sir Richard Rodney Bennett for services to composition
2009:
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Alfred Brendel for services to music as a pianist
2011:
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Pastmaster Adrian Davis for services to the Company as co-founder and editor of Preserve Harmony
2013:
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Margaret Alford (Liveryman) for outstanding service to the Company in the Clerk’s office
2015:
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Judith Weir CBE for services to music as composer
2018:
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Pastmaster Gavin Barrett, for services to the Company as Honorary Treasurer
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2019:
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Pastmaster John Rubinstein, for services to the Company as Honorary Solicitor
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Sir John Eliot Gardiner CBE, for services to music
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2020:
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Nicola Benedetti CBE, for services to music
2021:​
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Pastmaster Leslie East OBE for many years of deep and ongoing commitment to the Company and to its charitable work (click on image for further details)
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