A handful of arts leaders in the UK have been honoured in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list, which was announced on Friday 13th June. Alongside figures from the arts, sciences, politics and sports, honours are also granted to figures spearheading services in the community such as campaigning and fundraising.
Among those receiving recognition for their work are Alex Beard, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Ballet and Opera, Angela Dixon, Chief Executive of Saffron Hall in Essex, and David Pickard, former Director of the BBC Proms.
Alex Beard receives a Knighthood for Services to the Arts. Since assuming leadership in 2013, Beard has guided the Royal Ballet and Opera through a complex period, demonstrating significant transformation and resilience. Under his direction, the Royal Opera House’s iconic Grade I listed home has been rejuvenated, with the organisation successfully emerging from challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic. “Alex’s approach is one of bold vision, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the transformative power of the arts,” said Sir Lloyd Dorfman, Chair of the Royal Ballet and Opera
David Pickard, who has been made an OBE, was Director of the BBC Proms for nine seasons between 2015 and 2024. During his tenure, he increased the diversity of artists and composers, expanding the Proms outside London beyond the Proms in the Park events, with weekend-long festivals in the North East.
Angela Dixon receives an MBE for services to music education and the performing arts. After joining Saffron Hall, Angela helped develop the venue’s public programme and its extensive schools and community programme. She is also a trustee of Young Classical Artist Trust (YCAT) and a member of the oversight group for Essex Music Hub. In May 2024 she became the first woman in history to be appointed chair of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Also receiving OBEs are David Lewis, founder of Young Voices, which brings together over 200,000 primary school-aged children a year from across the UK to sing in massed choir events in the UK's biggest venues, and Nicholas Robinson, founder of Future Talent, which supports gifted young musicians from low-income backgrounds, helping overcome structural barriers to musical development.
Gabriella Di Laccio, singer and activist, receives an MBE for her work with the Donne Foundation – Women in Music, which raises awareness and shares important data on systemic inequalities that have shaped music’s past and present. Di Laccio said, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition, and I share it with all the women who came before me – those who paved the way and inspired me – as well as every woman whose voice was silenced or overlooked, and whose music we still don’t know. This is a call to keep making a difference through my music and my actions, and to inspire others to do the same.”
Other significant figures receiving knighthoods this year include theatre director Rufus Norris, Chief Executive of the National Theatre, actor Gary Oldman, footballer David Beckham and The Who frontman Roger Daltrey. Musicals star Elaine Paige received a Damehood. Sculptor Sir Anthony Gormley and scientist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell were awarded membership of the Order of Companions of Honour.
Overall, 1200 people are on the UK honours list issued by the Cabinet Office. The New Year and King’s Birthday honours are awarded by the sovereign in the UK and 15 Commonwealth realms, following recommendations by individual governments. Members of the public can also recommend people for awards: in the UK, these nominations typically make up about a quarter of all recommendations.
