Anna is honoured to have been appointed an MBE for services to music in the 2024 New Year Honours List.

“I still can’t quite believe it, if I’m honest. It was a total surprise. I 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. It was such a wonderful moment 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.  

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.”