Alison Balsom

Areas of Interest

Music

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Arts, 2009

Biography

A highly acclaimed international artist and one of music's great ambassadors, trumpeter Alison Balsom has won widespread praise from classical musicians, critics and audiences. She is an outstanding performer who has achieved more at her young age than many musicians would hope to in their entire career. Writing about her immense talent, Richard Morrison from The Times said, 'She makes the trumpet sing with an irresistible exuberance and eloquence.'

Alison was named 'Best Young British Performer' at the 2006 Classical BRIT Awards and was honoured with the Classic FM Listeners' Award in September 2006. Following this, Gramophone Echo Klassik Awards hailed her 'Rising Artist of the Year' and in 2009, again at the Classical BRIT Awards, she became the first ever Briton to be crowned 'Female Artist of the Year'.

It was while she was represented by the Young Concert Artists Trust that Alison was singled out by EMI Classics with whom she has recorded exclusively for several years. Alison was soloist at the 'Last Night of the Proms' 2009 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. She is honoured for her devotion to music and for her incredible musical achievements.

Citation

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Alison Balsom for the award of Honorary Doctor of Arts.

A highly acclaimed international artist and one of music's great ambassadors, trumpeter Alison Balsom has won widespread praise from classical musicians, critics and audiences. She is an outstanding performer who has achieved more at her young age than many musicians would hope to in their entire career. Writing about her immense talent, Richard Morrison from The Times said, 'She makes the trumpet sing with an irresistible exuberance and eloquence.'

Alison Balsom was named 'Best Young British Performer' at the 2006 Classical BRIT Awards and was honoured with the Classic FM Listeners' Award in September 2006. Following this, Gramophone Echo Klassik Awards hailed her 'Rising Artist of the Year' and in 2009, again at the Classical BRIT Awards, she became the first ever Briton to be crowned 'Female Artist of the Year'.

It was while she was represented by the Young Concert Artists Trust that Alison was singled out by EMI Classics with whom she has recorded exclusively for several years. Her Trumpet and Organ disc of 2005 was quickly followed by her album 'Caprice' which was praised widely. Alison's most recent recording was cited in the New York Times as one of their '24 records of 2008'.

Alison was soloist at the 'Last Night of the Proms' in September 2009 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. She studied trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music, at Paris Conservatoire with Håkan Hardenberger, and was previously a member of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Britain. She is currently Visiting Professor of Trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music. She performs a wide range of recital and concerto repertoire, from Albinoni to Zimmermann. 

Alison is a classically trained musician with eclectic tastes - she names the jazz giant Dizzy Gillespie as her first inspiration - and a very strong sense of her own career. Now a widely-acclaimed music celebrity, she has ambitions of stepping outside of the classical arena to play with such diverse artists as Kanye West, Mark Ronson and Eminem. But when she started out she had no idea that she would be rubbing shoulders with such globally-recognised contemporary artists. 

Indeed, she wondered if she would make it in the music business. She was even concerned that she might not be good enough to achieve success! Clearly, she underestimated her own unique ability as a soloist to make the most beautiful music. Many students will go out to start their own careers in music or the performing arts with the same uncertainties but, just looking at the role model that is Alison Balsom, students can only be encouraged by her determination and drive to succeed.

Alison's devotion to music is clear. She deserves every honour she has collected and the worldwide success she now enjoys. We at Anglia Ruskin are delighted that she is accepting our very own award for musical genius. Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Alison Balsom for the award of Doctor of Arts, honoris causa."