Posted on 12 July 2010
Master of the Queen’s music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies was made President of the Musicians Benevolent Fund at its recent Annual General Meeting. Maxwell Davies is the second ever President in the Fund’s 89 year history, following in the footsteps of another Master of the Queen’s Music, Sir Edward Elgar. Elgar helped set up the charity in memory of his good friend and tenor Gervase Elwes.
The role of President will replace that of Chairman of the Advisory Council, which was held for the last 20 years by conductor and composer Sir David Willcocks. The President will lead the Fund’s Council of Ambassadors which includes many key figures from the music industry such as conductors Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Neville Marriner, composer Howard Goodall and jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine.
David Sulkin, Chief Executive of the Musicians Benevolent Fund, says: “We are delighted that Sir Peter Maxwell Davies has agreed to become President of the Fund. Through this new role Sir Peter will act as a vital champion of our work. Sir Peter has a wealth of knowledge and experience which will help guide us into our next 90 years”.