Violinist Catherine Mackintosh to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

The UK violinist and early music expert will receive the award from England’s York Early Music Festival

Established in 1977, the York Early Music Festival (YEMF) is part of England’s National Center for Early Music (NCEM) annual program that celebrates historic houses and churches in York, England, through historically informed music performance. 

For the previous two years, the YEMF was held online but it will return this year from July 8–16, 2022. This year will also see violinist Catherine Mackintosh presented with the 2020 York Early Music Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Awarded biennially, this accolade recognizes those who have made a significant difference in the early music world. Previous winners have included Kuijken String Quartet, Dame Emma Kirkby, James Bowman, Jordi Savall, Andrew Parrott, Anthony Rooley, and Trevor Pinnock.

Prior to the award ceremony, Mackintosh will be featured in a live-broadcast interview on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show on July 10. Violinist Kati Debretzeni will later present the award in front of a live audience.

“I’m delighted that Catherine will finally be receiving this award after a rather long wait!” said NCEM and YEMF director, Delma Tomlin MBE in the press release. “Her wonderful career, not just as a performer, but also as a mentor and teacher, has had an extraordinary impact on the world of early music.”

A graduate of London’s Royal College of Music (RCM) studying the treble viol, Mackintosh is the founder of the Purcell Quartet and has recorded and performed many major baroque works internationally. She was also Britain’s pioneer of the viola d’amore.

Additionally, Mackintosh has taught at RCM, Royal Conservatoire, The Hague, and has run courses abroad. She has also led orchestras including the Academy of Ancient Music and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment — which she co-founded and directed for 20 years.

“I am tremendously touched and honored to receive this award and to join the list of the previous recipients — all friends and colleagues from whom I’ve learnt much and with whom I have happily traveled this musical road,” Mackintosh said.

The theme of YEMF 2022 is “Connections.” For more about the festival, including tickets, click here.

CATHERINE MACKINTOSH – ON HER CAREER AND INSTRUMENT | ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT | 2015