Academy of Ancient Music’s Music Director, Laurence Cummings, has been awarded an OBE for services to Music in the New Year Honours List for 2024. The list, which recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK, was published on 29 December 2023, and lists Laurence Cummings as ‘Conductor, Harpsichordist, Music Director of the Academy of Ancient Music and the London Handel Festival, and William Crotch Professor of Historical Performance, Royal Academy of Music’.
John McMunn, Chief Executive of AAM, commented:
All of us at AAM are delighted and deeply proud that our Music Director, Laurence Cummings, has been recognised in this way. Laurence’s outstanding work – as a musician, conductor and educator – has made an invaluable contribution to the musical life of these isles and further afield. We are fortunate for the opportunity to work regularly with him, and we couldn't wish for anyone better to lead AAM into its next half-century.
Until 2012, Laurence was Head of Historical Performance at the Royal Academy of Music, where he now holds the position of William Crotch Professor of Historical Performance. He has served as Musical Director of the London Handel Orchestra and the London Handel Festival, and is also the current Music Director of Orquestra Barroca Casa da Música in Porto. Laurence was announced as AAM’s new Music Director in November 2020, succeeding Richard Egarr in September 2021.
