aaamusic | On 12, Apr 2011

Nordoff Robbins have today announced that acclaimed musician and campaigner Annie Lennox OBE will be honoured with the prestigious O2 Silver Clef Award at this year’s Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards Lunch.

This star-studded event in aid of music charity Nordoff Robbins, the chosen charity of the music industry, will take place on Friday 1 July at London Hilton, Park Lane. The O2 Silver Clef Award is the most prestigious of the nine awards handed out at the event. It’s given to a British artiste in recognition of their contribution to UK music. Other winners at the 2011 Silver Clef Awards are Tinie Tempah (TAG Design & Interactive: Best Newcomer award) and Alfie Boe (PPL Classical Award). Further award winners will be announced soon.

Annie Lennox is one of the most successful female artists in UK music history, with global record sales exceeding 80 million. As one half of the chart topping synth-pop outfit The Eurythmics, alongside Dave Stewart, with several BRIT and Grammy awards under their belt, Annie went on to forge a hugely sucessful solo career. Her debut album ‘Diva’, released in 1992, sold over 8 million copies. With five studio albums and eight BRIT awards under her belt, Annie’s most recent album, ‘A Christmas Cornucopia’ was released November 2010 and charted in the UK Top 20.

In addition to Annie’s long career as a musician, she continues to dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort to charity work and humanitarian causes around the world and was recently honoured with an OBE. Annie Lennox joins an illustrious list of artistes who have been honoured with the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Award including The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, George Michael, Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne, and last year, Muse.

Annie Lennox OBE said, “I am thrilled and honoured to be receiving the O2 Silver Clef Award from Nordoff Robbins.

“I’ve supported Nordoff Robbins over the years and I’m a firm believer in their work and the healing power of music.”

David Munns, Chairman, Nordoff Robbins said, “We are proud and honoured to be awarding Annie Lennox the O2 Silver Clef Award. As a prize that recognizes the contribution a British artiste has made to music, I can think of no more worthy recipient. As an outstanding musician and philanthropist, Annie’s influence has been felt globally.

“Our work at Nordoff Robbins is life changing. Since the Silver Clef Awards began 36 years ago, they have raised over £8m for Nordoff Robbins, allowing us to use music transform the lives of many thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable people – but we still have a long way to go to ensure we can deliver our music services to all those who need them.”

Nuala Donnelly, Head of Music Sponsorship for O2 said, “This is the 9^th year of our partnership with Nordoff Robbins and we’re as enthusiastic about it as we were on that very first day. We believe that music can make a difference and so we are proud to be associated with such invaluable work.  The commitment and energy that Nordoff Robbins put into improving the lives of others is inspirational and we’re delighted to support an event that helps to celebrate that.

“2010 raised the bar for the Silver Clef Award and we’re looking forward to another memorable year!”

Music charity Nordoff Robbins uses music to transform the lives of people of all ages all over the UK. Supported heavily by the music indutry, where they are the charity of choice at the BRITs and the MITs, they provide over 45,000 music therapy sessions annually in a variety of settings across the UK including schools, day centres, hospitals, care homes, in addition to their main centre and units.

The annual Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards Lunch, which began in 1975, is now the jewel in the charity’s fundraising crown and a highlight of the UK music industry’s calendar. Sponsored by O2 for the past nine years, and now in its 36^th year, the event has raised over £8 million for Nordoff Robbins since its inception. Last year’s winners included Muse, JLS and Dizzee Rascal and honourees in previous years include The Who, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Sting, Take That, Kylie Minogue and many more .

http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/