Music-makers at the University of Huddersfield have got the Royal seal of approval.
His Royal Highness Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales and his wife, The Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, presented the university with the the Queen’s Anniversary Prize.
It was awarded to mark the university’s “world-leading work to promote, produce and present contemporary music to an international audience.”
The coveted distinction – a part of the country’s official honours system – is awarded every two years to a only a few higher education institutions and recognises innovation across many different disciplines.
READ MORE: Royal honour for University of Huddersfield's music message
Staff and students travelled down to the Buckingham Palace ceremony to receive the accolade, which was given to them on the advice of 350 experts and a report advised on by David Cameron.
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, which is based at the university, was also represented at the event by the current Artistic Director Graham McKenzie and Festival Manager Roisin Hughes.
In the written citation for the award, there was praise for the Contemporary Music Festival, the university’s British Music Collection and its “pioneering” work in composition, performance and music technology, which allows the university to carry out research in audio technology and acoustics.
A quote said: “Through a long-term commitment it has built a world leading position in the promotion, production and presentation of contemporary music.
“It has created state-of-the-art facilities through investment in its new Creative Arts Building, organises two highly regarded annual international music festivals and developed a wide range of partnerships and collaborations.”
