MBE for Blur music teacher (From Gazette)

MBE for Blur music teacher

3:00pm Monday 13th February 2012 in News

A MUSIC teacher who has taught generations of Colchester’s youngsters has been made an MBE by Princes Charles.

Nigel Hildreth, 57, joined his family and friends at Buckingham Palace where he was presented with the honour.

Mr Hildreth has been musical director of the Colne Valley Youth Orchestra for more than 30 years and is head of performing arts at Colchester’s Sixth Form College. He said: “The people who were the recipients were briefed on etiquette. Then we went through and it was an awards ceremony, rather like a graduation event.

“We had a brief conversation with Princes Charles, and then we went off.

“He was interested in the fact I was doing music, and said it was very important to society to offer music to young people.

“It was a very special day in every respect.”

The father-of-three taught Blur’s Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon when they were at Stanway School, before joining Colchester Sixth Form College in 1987.

He helps organise the Colchester Schools Prom Concert, is a governor at the Gilberd School in High Woods, and is on the board of trustees for the Royal Academy of Dance.