His Majesty The King has appointed composer Errollyn Wallen as Master of the King’s Music. Wallen succeeds Judith Weir, who was appointed to the role in July 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Master of The King’s Music is an honorary appointment made by the Sovereign and given to a musician who 'has added to the musical life of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth'. The role carries no fixed duties, but the Master may compose pieces for special Royal or State occasions.
Commenting on her new role, Errollyn said: 'I am thrilled to accept this royal appointment. It will be a privilege and a great honour to serve His Majesty The King, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. I look forward to championing music and music-making for all.'
Who is Errollyn Wallen?
Errollyn Wallen was born in Belize before moving to the UK at the age of two. She is a composer, pianist and singer-songwriter who studied music and composition at Goldsmiths, King’s College London and King’s College, Cambridge. Her work includes 22 operas and a range of compositions including orchestral, vocal and chamber music.
She was previously commissioned to compose pieces to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees. She has also composed works for the BBC Proms and other international events including the COP26 summit and the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Errollyn Wallen was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007 by His Majesty The King (as Prince of Wales) and a Commander of the Order (CBE) in 2020 by the Princess Royal.
As a broadcaster, she has worked on several documentary programmes including Classical Commonwealth for BBC Radio 3, which explored the impact of colonialism on music across the Commonwealth. Her book Becoming a Composer was published in November 2023.
What is Master of the King's Music?
The role of Master of The King’s Music was created in the reign of King Charles I, when the Master served as the head of the Sovereign’s band of musicians. The tradition of a private band formed by the Sovereign ended in 1899 with the creation of a separate Queen’s Band.
Since the reign of King George V, the role has carried no fixed duties, though often the Master will compose pieces for special Royal occasions such as Royal Weddings, Jubilees and Coronations, should they wish to.
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In more recent years the office has been appointed for a fixed term of ten years, which is in line with the comparable honorary position of the Poet Laureate. The post holder may shape the level of engagement of the role as they see fit, with no contract or duties stipulated by The Royal Household.
Masters of the King or Queen's Music in the past 100 years have included composers Edward Elgar (who held the position from 1924 to 34), Arnold Bax (1942-53), Arthur Bliss (1953-75), Peter Maxwell Davies (2004-2014) and Judith Weir (2014-2024).
