New Year Honours 2024: Organist Anna Lapwood, of Pembroke College, Cambridge, tells how she reacted to MBE

Anna Lapwood, organist and director of music at Pembroke College in Cambridge, has been honoured with an MBE for services to music.

A conductor and broadcaster, she is also associate artist of the Royal Albert Hall in London and artist in association with the BBC Singers.

In 2023, she was awarded the prestigious ‘Gamechanger’ Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society, and signed to Sony Classical as an exclusive recording artist. She is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.

Anna, 28, has been a champion for women and girls in music. She was the first female in Magdalen College Oxford’s 560-year history to be awarded the Organ Scholarship and since then has run regular organ workshops for young players around the country, hosted the Cambridge Organ Experience for Girls and has set up a girls’ choir at Pembroke College in Cambridge.

On hearing she had been awarded the honour, Anna said: “I still can't quite believe it, if I'm honest. It was a total surprise - I remember I had just gone to pick up my post from the Porters' Lodge at Pembroke, was leafing through my letters, and saw one marked 'On His Majesty's Service' - I've never ripped something open that fast in my life!

“I cried when I realised what it was. When you work as a musician, so much of what you do isn't quantifiable or finite - your work on a certain piece is never 'finished', and your playing is always changing and developing. Receiving this award feels like something concrete - a deeply significant moment in my musical journey.

“The best thing about it for me was when I could finally tell my parents and my fiancé; none of this would have been possible without their constant support and encouragement and it feels very special to know I'm making them proud.

“I feel as if this honour has inspired me to keep pushing for the causes close to my heart. Everyone should have the option to pursue a career in music. Nobody should feel they aren't welcome in our industry because of who they are. Fighting for this is rarely easy, but the joy of seeing people unlock their potential makes it all worthwhile.”