This is a summary of the year 2019 in British music.
Events 3 January – The Royal College of Organists announces Hans Fagius and Nicolas Kynaston as the recipients of the RCO Medal for 2019. 10 January – The Brodsky Quartet announces the appointment of Gina McCormack as its new violinist, to replace the departing Daniel Rowland. 17 January – The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation announces Rebecca Saunders as the recipient of the Ernst von Siemens Musikpreis 2019, the second woman and the first female composer ever to be honoured with the award. 21 January – The Barbican Centre, London Symphony Orchestra, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama jointly unveil initial designs for the proposed privately-funded centre for music in the City of London. 24 January – Tasmin Little announces her intention to retire from classical music performance in the summer of 2020. 25 January The BBC Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Dalia Stasevska as its next principal guest conductor, the first woman to be named to the post and the second female conductor ever to be given a titled post with a BBC orchestra. The Ulster Orchestra announces the appointment of Daniele Rustioni as its next chief conductor, effective September 2019. The city of Schwäbisch Gmünd announces John Rutter as the recipient of the Preis der Europäischen Kirchenmusik 2019. 20 February – Future Talent announces Sheku Kanneh-Mason as its newest Ambassador. 4 March – Scala Radio, a new classical radio station, begins transmission. 8 March A British Phonographic Industry report indicates that with respect to music provision, state schools have seen a 21% decrease over the past 5 years, compared to a net increase of 7% in independent schools during the same period. Birmingham Contemporary Music Group announces the appointment of Seb Huckle as its new executive director. 29–31 March – The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival takes place in Liverpool. 17 April English National Opera announces the resignation of Daniel Kramer as its artistic director, effective at the end of July 2019. The Court of Appeal unanimously upholds the earlier ruling by the High Court of Justice in the case of Christopher Goldscheider v. Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, in favour of Goldscheider. 22 April – The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams regains its position at number 1 in the Classic FM Top 300, revealed over the Easter weekend. 25 April – The Development Management Sub-Committee of the City of Edinburgh Council approves plans for the construction of Dunard Centre, the first purpose-built music and performance venue in Edinburgh in over 100 years. 29 April – The PRS Foundation announces that Vanessa Reed is to stand down as its executive director, effective with the summer of 2019. 7 May – BBC Radio 3 announces the musicians for its New Generation Artists scheme from 2019-21: Eric Lu, piano Alexander Gadjiev, piano Timothy Ridout, viola Consone Quartet Johan Dalene, violin Rob Luft, jazz guitar Ema Nikoslovska, mezzo-soprano 10 May – The Philharmonia Orchestra announces that Helen Sprott is to stand down as its managing director. 22 May The Philharmonia Orchestra announces the appointment of Santtu-Matias Rouvali as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2021-2022 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. The Benedetti Foundation announces the appointment of Michael Garvey as its first-ever executive director. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) announces that Michael Garvey is to stand down as director of the BBC NOW and the BBC National Chorus of Wales. 7 June Queen's Birthday Honours: Stephen Cleobury, Ian Stoutzker, and David Pountney are each made a Knight Bachelor. Jonathan Dove, Joanna MacGregor, Mitch Murray and Mark Padmore are each made a Commander of the Order of British Empire. Elvis Costello, Kathryn Harries, Feargal Sharkey and Robin Ticciati are each made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Mary Bevan, Sophie Bevan, Alfie Boe, Jacqui Dankworth, Andy Heath, Anna Meredith, and Timothy Reynish are each made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. 14–16 June – Download Festival 2019 takes place at Donington Park in Leicestershire. The main stage is headlined by Def Leppard, Slipknot and Tool, the Zippo encore stage by Rob Zombie, Halestorm and Slayer (in their final UK appearance), the Avalanche stage by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Simple Creatures and Enter Shikari, and the Dogtooth stage by At the Gates, Carcass and Municipal Waste. 17 June – The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) announces the appointments of Alexander Goehr and Sir David Pountney as honorary members of the RPS. 22 June – The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2019 competition results are announced: Main Prize – Andrei Kymach Song Prize – Mingjie Lei Audience Prize – Katie Bray 24 June – Opera North announces the appointment of Garry Walker as its next music director, effective with the 2020-21 season. 26 June – Opera Rara announces the appointment of Carlo Rizzi as its next artistic director, effective June 2020. 19 July – Karina Canellakis conducts the First Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, the first female conductor ever to conduct the First Night. 25 July – The London Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Edward Gardner as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2021-22 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. 3 September – At the Proms, Bernard Haitink conducts his 90th and final Prom, with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist Emanuel Ax. 11 September – The BBC National Orchestra of Wales announces the appointment of Ryan Bancroft as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2020-21 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. 16 September The BBC announces the appointment of Lisa Tregale as the new Director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the BBC National Chorus of Wales, effective in 2020. Tregale is the first woman to be named to the post. Wigmore Hall awards Iestyn Davies the Wigmore Medal, after a concert at Wigmore Hall on his 40th birthday. 5 October – Lucia Lucas becomes the first transgender singer to perform with the English National Opera in London. 8 October – English National Opera announces the appointment of Annilese Miskimmon as its next artistic director, effective September 2020. 8 November – The Royal Albert Hall announces a new 5-year partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as its new associate orchestra for year-round orchestral programmes. 9 December – The Yehudi Menuhin School announces the appointment of Tasmin Little as its new co-president. 27 December – UK New Year's Honours 2020: Sir Elton John is made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. Olivia Newton-John is made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Humphrey Burton is made a Knight Bachelor. Timothy Walker and Errollyn Wallen are each made a Commander of the Order of British Empire. Judith Bingham, Nicola Killean, Gary Lightbody and Roger Taylor are each made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Helen Grime, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and Charles Kennard are each made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
Television programmes
1 January – Jools' Annual Hootenanny features Marc Almond, George Ezra, Junior Giscombe, Jess Glynne and others. 24 February – Pappano's Greatest Arias, presented by Antonio Pappano 1 March – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, documentary about Soft Cell 14 April – Janet Baker in her own words, documentary about Janet Baker 7 September – Strictly Come Dancing 2019 series, introducing new judge Motsi Mabuse. 12 October The X Factor: Celebrity; competitors include Brendan Cole, Martin Bashir and Hayley Hasselhoff The series is won by Megan McKenna, with Max and Harvey second and Jenny Ryan third. Mark Ronson: From the Heart (BBC4 documentary) 10 December – Lucy Worsley's Christmas Carol Odyssey (BBC4 documentary)
Artists and groups Formed Flo Sault Wet Leg
Reformed
Doves The Futureheads Goodbye Mr Mackenzie JLS Lighthouse Family McFly Monaco Roxy Music Shakespears Sister Sugababes (original line up) Supergrass
Disbanded Arms Race Estrons The Good, the Bad & the Queen Mallory Knox Otherkin The Searchers Spandau Ballet The Spook School Superfood
Classical works Thomas Adès – Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Sally Beamish – Nine Fragments (for string quartet) Michael Berkeley – Epitaphs of War Sir Harrison Birtwistle – Duet for 8 Strings (for viola and cello) Mark David Boden – Descent Jay Capperauld – Egalitair John Casken – Madonna of Silence (Trombone Concerto) Jonathan Dove Accordion Concerto ('Northern Lights') We Are One FireBBC Proms, Prom 43, 19 August 2019 programme David Fennessy – The Ground (commissioned by BBC; premièred on 12 January at Glasgow City Hall Helen Grime – Percussion Concerto Gavin Higgins – Book of Miracles (Trombone Concerto)BBC Symphony Orchestra, 13 February 2019 programme Robin Holloway – Phaeton’s Journey: Son of the Sun (Trumpet Concerto)BBC Philharmonic, 23 February 2019 programme Dani Howard – Gates of SpringLondon Symphony Orchestra, 5 July 2019 Cheltenham Festival programme Emily Howard (music) and Michael Symmons Roberts (text) – The Anvil – An elegy for PeterlooBBC Philharmonic, 7 July 2019 programme Daniel Kidane – Woke John Woolrich – A Book of Inventions Nicholas Korth – Harmoniae Naturales VI Sir James MacMillan – Symphony No 5 ('Le grand Inconnu')Edinburgh International Festival, 17 August 2019 programme Grace-Evangeline Mason – Midnight Spires Colin Matthews – Octet Tom Poster – The Turning Year André Previn and Tom Stoppard – PenelopeTanglewood Festival of Music, 24 July 2019 programme Joby Talbot – A Sheen of Dew on FlowersBarbican Centre, Britten Sinfonia, 11 April 2019 programme Mark-Anthony Turnage – Massarosa (for bassoon and string quartet) Huw Watkins – The MoonBBC Proms, Prom 28, 8 August 2019 programme Ryan Wigglesworth – Piano ConcertoBBC Proms, Prom 52, 28 August 2019 programme Scott Wilson – À Mezza Voce John Woolrich – A Book of Inventions
Opera Iain Bell and Mark Campbell – StonewallNew York City Opera page on Stonewall Iain Bell and Emma Jenkins – The Women of Whitechapel Gavin Higgins and Francesca Simon – The Monstrous ChildRoyal Opera House, Covent Garden page on The Monstrous Child Dani Howard (music), Zoe Palmer and Rebecca Hurst (libretto) – Robin Hood Stuart MacRae and Louise Welsh – Anthropocene Gabriel Prokofiev and David Pountney – Elizabetta Philip Venables and Ted Huffman – Denis & KatyaOpera Philadelphia page on Denis & Katya
Musical theatre Only Fools and Horses The Musical, by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, with additional music by Chas Hodges and John Sullivan
Musical films Blinded by the Light, starring Hayley Atwell and Kulvinder Ghir, with music by Bruce Springsteen. Cats, starring James Corden, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen and Judi Dench, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, due for release on 20 December.'Cats' Movie Adaptation Sets December 2019 Release Date Rocketman, starring Taron Egerton, produced by Elton John, David Furnish and Matthew Vaughn Yesterday, starring Himesh Patel and Ed Sheeran, with songs by Paul McCartney and John Lennon
Film scores and incidental music Film Soumik Datta – Around India with a Movie Camera Steven Price – Wonder Park Vik Sharma & Graham Coxon – Fighting with My Family
Television David Arnold – Good Omens Ewen Henderson – Sanditon Dominik Scherrer – The Widow
British music awards Brit Awards – see 2019 Brit Awards
Charts and sales Number-one singles The singles chart includes a proportion for streaming.
+KeyBest performing single of the year