We’re delighted by the news that our Artistic Director, Bill Bankes-Jones, has been awarded the BEM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for “services to opera and diversity.” After 20 years at the helm of Tête à Tête, it’s a well-deserved recognition of all his achievements with us and across the operatic sector. Whether creating Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival, bringing opportunities to thousands of new opera makers, chairing the Opera and Music Theatre Forum, or guiding us through an extraordinarily difficult year to create the triumphant 2020 Festival, including a DCMS pilot for the first indoor opera performance to a live audience since the lockdown began, Bill has helped shape the modern opera industry like few others have.

Bill said “what made me very happy to accept was that it was for services to opera and diversity, which is a brilliant and amazing thing. Really, it’s about all the artists and other people who have helped make Tête à Tête what it is, so congratulations to all of them.”