Elgar Society

The Elgar Society is a UK-based musical and cultural society devoted to the music and legacy of the English composer Edward Elgar. Founded in 1951, it works to sustain interest in Elgar’s best-known compositions while also encouraging performances, recordings, research, and public awareness of works that are less frequently programmed. Its remit encompasses the broader cultural and educational significance of Elgar’s music rather than functioning as a commercial record label or conventional arts business. The Society supports its mission through a membership organization, geographically organized branches, publications, awards, educational assistance, and relationships with performers, scholars, museums, and concert institutions. Its branches provide a framework for local events and activities, with seven UK branches—Great Western, London, North West, Scotland, Southern, Thames Valley, and West Midlands—and a branch in Vancouver, British Columbia. Branches operate under the Society’s governance arrangements and are expected to report on their activities and finances to the central Council. A central part of the Society’s communications activity is The Elgar Society Journal, published three times a year. The journal carries research and other writing concerning Elgar and is distributed to members while also being available to educational institutions and the wider public. Members also receive a newsletter three times annually. Through these publications, the Society helps connect performance practice, musicological research, historical documentation, and news about Elgar-related activity. The Society has also contributed to the preservation and dissemination of Elgar’s wider catalogue. During the 1980s it encouraged recordings of works that had remained unavailable or rarely heard, including The Black Knight. Its educational role includes grants to appropriate activities intended to improve the quality of music education and public engagement. It also provides an annual grant to the Elgar Birthplace Museum, supporting wider access to the site and its collections and encouraging research. Recognition of advocacy for Elgar forms another part of the Society’s work. The Elgar Medal was initially associated particularly with overseas scholars and musicians who performed, published, or otherwise promoted Elgar’s music internationally. The scope of recognition later included prominent British advocates, as illustrated by the medal awarded to writer and critic Michael Kennedy in 2011. The Society’s current president is conductor Sir Mark Elder. Earlier presidents included Sir Adrian Boult, Yehudi Menuhin, and Richard Hickox. The Elgar Society remains an active specialist organization focused on cultural stewardship rather than commercial growth. Its present-day importance lies in maintaining a network for enthusiasts and professionals, supporting research and education, encouraging performances and recordings, and helping Elgar’s music reach new and younger audiences.

The Elgar Society was established in 1951 to promote the music of Edward Elgar, an English composer whose large catalogue includes orchestral, choral, chamber, vocal, and instrumental works. From its beginning, the Society’s purpose extended beyond celebrating the composer’s most familiar pieces. It placed particular emphasis on encouraging performances of works that were less commonly heard, helping to broaden the public understanding of Elgar’s output. The organization developed as a membership-based musical society with a national structure in the United Kingdom and connections abroad. Its geographically organized branches support local activity and provide members with opportunities to engage with Elgar’s music in different regions. The UK branches are Great Western, London, North West, Scotland, Southern, Thames Valley, and West Midlands. A further branch operates in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Branch formation is subject to the Society Council’s assessment of membership strength and long-term viability. Branches are expected to keep the Council informed about their activities and to submit annual accounts to the Society’s treasurer. The Society’s public and scholarly profile is supported by regular publishing. The Elgar Society Journal appears three times each year and carries writing on Elgar research and related subjects. It is supplied to members as part of their subscription benefits and is also made available to educational institutions and members of the general public. A separate newsletter is issued to members three times a year, providing a more direct channel for Society information and community communication. The Society’s work became formally connected with charitable activity when it was registered as a charity on 22 January 1988. Its educational objectives include introducing Elgar and his music to younger audiences and supporting appropriate educational activities through grants. These activities are intended not only to increase knowledge of Elgar but also to contribute more broadly to the quality of cultural life available to the public. During the 1980s, the Society helped stimulate the recording of neglected works. One example was The Black Knight, which had remained unrecorded. This activity reflected a continuing concern with making the full range of Elgar’s compositions available to performers, listeners, scholars, and collectors. The Society’s role is primarily supportive and promotional rather than that of a commercial label, but its advocacy can help create the conditions for recordings and performances that might otherwise receive limited attention. Heritage preservation is another important strand of the Society’s work. It provides an annual grant to the Elgar Birthplace Museum, with the stated aims of widening access to the site and its contents and encouraging research. This links the Society’s performance and educational mission with the protection and interpretation of places associated with Elgar’s life. The Elgar Medal provides a mechanism for honoring people who have advanced the composer’s reputation. Before 2011, the distinction was generally awarded to foreign scholars and musicians who published or performed Elgar’s music and thereby promoted it outside Britain. Conductor Sakari Oramo received the medal at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall in December 2008, and Vladimir Ashkenazy received the remaining outstanding award in 2010. In 2011, the Society broadened the visible scope of the award by presenting it to Michael Kennedy, a British journalist, writer, and critic recognized for his major contribution to Elgar advocacy. In 2019, Anastasia Vedyakova became the first Russian musician identified as an Elgar Medal recipient. Leadership of the Society has included major figures in British and international musical life. Sir Adrian Boult served as the first president from 1951, followed by Lord Menuhin from 1983 and Richard Hickox from 1999. The current president is Sir Mark Elder. Across these leadership periods, the Society has retained its role as a specialist organization connecting performers, researchers, educators, heritage institutions, and audiences interested in Elgar. Today, the Elgar Society remains an active nonprofit cultural body. Its activities combine advocacy for performance and recording, publication of research, education, grants, heritage support, awards, and member-led events. Its international reach is modest compared with mass-market music brands, but its specialist influence is significant within the continuing study and performance of Edward Elgar.

• 2019

  Anastasia Vedyakova receives the Elgar Medal

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Anastasia Vedyakova became the first Russian musician identified as an Elgar Medal recipient.

• 2011

  Elgar Medal awarded to Michael Kennedy

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society awarded the medal to Michael Kennedy for his contribution to promoting Elgar’s works.

• 2010

  Vladimir Ashkenazy receives the Elgar Medal

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Vladimir Ashkenazy received an outstanding Elgar Medal award.

• 2008

  Sakari Oramo receives the Elgar Medal

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Sakari Oramo was presented with the Elgar Medal at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on 11 December.

• 1999

  Richard Hickox becomes president

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Richard Hickox succeeded Lord Menuhin as president.

• 1988

  Registered as a charity

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Elgar Society was registered as a charity on 22 January 1988.

• 1983

  Lord Menuhin succeeds Boult as president

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Lord Menuhin became president after Sir Adrian Boult.

• 1951

  Elgar Society founded

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society was founded to promote Edward Elgar’s music, with particular attention to works that were rarely performed.

• 1951

  Sir Adrian Boult becomes first president

  [1]Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Conductor Sir Adrian Boult became the Society’s first president.

A specialist, nonprofit musical society positioned as a cultural steward and international advocate for Edward Elgar’s music, combining scholarship, performance support, education, publications, local member activity, and heritage preservation.

• Music research publication

  The Elgar Society Journal

  A journal issued three times a year containing research and other writing about Edward Elgar, his music, performances, and legacy. It is distributed to members and is also available to educational institutions and the general public, giving the Society a continuing scholarly and public-education presence.

• Member communication

  Elgar Society Newsletter

  A newsletter issued three times a year for Society members. It functions as a regular community and organizational communication alongside the more research-oriented Elgar Society Journal.

• Cultural award

  Elgar Medal

  An award recognizing scholars, musicians, writers, and other advocates whose performances, publications, or related work promote Edward Elgar’s music. Its documented recipients include Sakari Oramo, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Michael Kennedy, and Anastasia Vedyakova.

• Grant program

  Educational and research grants

  Support for appropriate educational activities and research connected with Elgar and his music. The Society also provides an annual grant to the Elgar Birthplace Museum to improve accessibility and encourage research.

• 1980Advocacy for recordings of neglected Elgar works

  United Kingdom · International

  During the 1980s, the Society encouraged the recording of Elgar works that had remained unrecorded or were particularly rarely heard, including The Black Knight.

  Outcome. The initiative reinforced the Society’s role in expanding access to Elgar’s lesser-known catalogue, although the available reference does not specify a complete list of resulting recordings.

  Source
• Younger-audience and education initiative

  United Kingdom

  The Society promotes the introduction of Edward Elgar and his music to younger audiences and provides grants to appropriate educational activities.

  Outcome. The initiative supports broader public engagement with Elgar and aims to enhance the cultural and educational quality of life of participants.

  Source
• Elgar Birthplace Museum access and research support

  United Kingdom

  The Society provides an annual grant to the Elgar Birthplace Museum to widen access to the location and its contents and to encourage research.

  Outcome. The grant connects the Society’s musical advocacy with the preservation and public interpretation of Elgar’s heritage.

  Source

• 2011

  Broadened the visible scope of the Elgar MedalStrategy

  Background

  Before 2011, the Elgar Medal had been awarded only to foreign scholars and musicians who published or performed Elgar’s music and promoted it abroad.

  Action taken

  The Society awarded the medal to Michael Kennedy, a British journalist, writer, and music critic, recognizing his major contribution to promoting Elgar’s works.

  Aftermath

  The award demonstrated that the Society’s recognition could extend beyond overseas performers and scholars to British writers and critics who advanced Elgar advocacy.

  Source

• 1988

  Formalized charitable statusStrategy

  Background

  The Society’s mission included education, public access, research, and support for the wider cultural life associated with Elgar’s music.

  Action taken

  It was registered as a charity on 22 January 1988.

  Aftermath

  Charitable registration provided a formal framework for the Society’s educational and public-benefit activities, including grants and heritage support.

  Source

1. 1Elgar Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Elgar Society websiteelgarsociety.org