Errollyn Wallen was made a CBE at St James’s Palace in 2021 (Yui Mok/PA) The King has appointed a composer of the London 2012 Paralympic Games as Master of the King’s Music. Errollyn Wallen CBE was also commissioned to compose pieces marking the Golden and Diamond Jubilees of Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Belize-born 66-year-old, who is also a pianist and singer-songwriter, was the first woman to receive an Ivor Novello Award for classical music and the first black woman to have a work featured in the Proms.
Last year she ranked among the top 20 most performed living classical composers. Errollyn Wallen was a winner at the 2013 Ivor Novello Awards (Ian West/PA) Created in the reign of King Charles I, the Master of the King’s Music is an appointment made by the Sovereign and granted to a musician of distinction who has added to the musical life of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. While there are no set duties in the honorary role, the Master will often compose pieces for special royal occasions such as royal weddings, jubilees and coronations if they wish to.
Ms Wallen 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.
” Ms Wallen was born in Belize and moved to London aged two, before studying music and composition at Goldsmiths, King’s College London and King�.