Judith Weir receives Dame honour

Judith Weir CBE has been appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to music. 

Ms Weir, who grew up in Cambridge, composed music for King Charles III’s Coronation on May 6, 2023. Her orchestral composition, Brighter Visions Shine Afar, was performed before the ceremony began.

Having been master of the Queen’s Music for the final eight years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, Ms Weir’s 10 years in the role will come to an end in 2024. She is the first woman to have held the post.

She is best known for choral, orchestral and chamber music, and operas including A Night at the Chinese Opera, Blond Eckbert and The Vanishing Bridegroom.

She studied with the composer John Tavener, among others, before going on to study at King's College, Cambridge, graduating from Cambridge in 1976. She was made a CBE in 1995.