Iconic Tim Burgess to join RNCM's esteemed fellowship ranks

Tim Burgess, the iconic lead singer of Manchester-based band from Cheshire, The Charlatans, is set to receive a prestigious honour from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM).

The RNCM has announced its list of Honorands for 2023, and Burgess will be awarded the Fellowship of the RNCM (FRNCM) during the annual graduation ceremony on Thursday, December 14.

THE RNCM’s Honourands

This esteemed recognition places Burgess in the company of other distinguished individuals, including saxophonist and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL, soprano Susan Bullock CBE, conductor Alpesh Chauhan CBE, and pianist Graham Scott, Head of the RNCM’s School of Keyboard Studies.

Tim Burgess

In addition to his role as the frontman of The Charlatans, Tim Burgess is a multi-talented artist, boasting titles such as best-selling author, producer, DJ, and solo artist.

Expressing his gratitude, Burgess stated, “It’s a huge honour to become a Fellow of the Royal Northern College of Music, and I’ll not take my role lightly.

Music has been my saviour many a time in my life, and to be formally recognised by such a legendary institution is hard to put into words.”

270 New Additions

The upcoming ceremony, where over 270 students will graduate from the Manchester Conservatoire, will also honour several notable figures with Honorary Memberships (HonRNCM).

Among them are Carolyn Baxendale, Head of Bolton Music Service; Christopher Cox, Vice-Principal, University of Edinburgh; Sarah Godlee and Alice Herbert representing the Haworth Charitable Trust, supporters of young people in music and the arts; and philanthropist Richard Millar.

Professor Linda Merrick CBE

Professor Linda Merrick CBE, Principal of the RNCM, expressed excitement about the 2023 honorands, stating, “Each year, the RNCM awards Fellowships and Honorary Memberships to world-renowned musicians, conductors, composers, educators, and advocates, and 2023 is no exception.

“This year’s honorands provide a wealth of experience, support, and inspiration to the College, and I look forward to welcoming them to our Congregation of Awards in December.”

The ceremony will also shine a spotlight on distinguished alumni who have made exceptional contributions to their professions and to the RNCM.

The list includes composer and conductor Michael Betteridge, tenor Ryan Vaughan Davies, singer Simon Dumas, composer and conductor Leo Geyer, soprano Alexandra Lowe, 4-piece band Porij (Scout Moore, James Middleton, Jacob Maguire, and Nathan Carroll), composer and vocalist Shruthi Rajasekar, conductor and composer Jack Sheen, conductor Ellie Slorach, violinist Lily Whitehurst, and vocalist, violinist, and songwriter Alice Zawadzki.