EDGAS duo in birthday honours
David Lyle and Alan Borthwick awarded BEMs by King
Alan Borthwick and David Lyle, the Long-time Artistic and Musical Directors of the Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society, have been awarded the British Empire Medal “for services to music” in the King’s Birthday Honours 2025.
Also honoured is Bridget Stevens, from Merchiston, who is described as a pioneer in audio description and becomes a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the Arts. She has been an audio describer for more than 20 years, working in venues around the UK, including non-traditional spaces like Aberdeen Beach and Edinburgh Castle. She described the first-ever relaxed performance staged by the Festival Theatre.
Alan Borthwick and David Lyle in 2024. Pics Scott Barron
The awards to Alan Borthwick and David Lyle follow a hugely successful centenary year for EDGAS in 2024. The pair’s production of The Gondoliers was awarded first place at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, following a run in the Festival theatre in May.
Alan Borthwick and David Lyle are a well-known creative partnership in Edinburgh music circles and around the UK, having worked together with EDGAS for 35 years until Alan’s retirement in 2024.
They have also directed and musically directed a range of productions, together and separately, including for the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, the Prince Consort, and Tayside Opera.
David Lyle was born and educated in Edinburgh and is prominent in the musical life of the city, being well known as a conductor, accompanist, arranger and orchestral timpanist. This year will be his forty-seventh as MD for EDGAS, which he has led in concerts in and outwith Scotland, including gala evenings with the Band of H.M. Royal Marines in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
privilege
“Being Musical Director of the Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society for the past 48 years has been a great privilege, and an equally great pleasure,” he said. “The award of the British Empire Medal for services to music has come as a complete surprise to me, and I am hugely honoured to receive it.”
David Lyle and Alan Borthwick in 2024. Pic: EDGAS
Alan Borthwick is known as one of Scotland’s leading tenors, having sung major roles in operas ranging from Poulenc to Puccini as guest artiste for companies throughout Scotland. He is the only singer ever to have performed all the tenor roles in Sullivan operas – including those written without Gilbert – and he has recorded many of these roles for leading record companies.
Despite stepping back from directing responsibilities last year, he is still closely involved with EDGAS in an advisory capacity, including compering a number of their concerts and singalong events.
humbled
Alan Borthwick said: “I am surprised, delighted and truly humbled to receive this honour, and I want to thank everyone who has considered me worthy of such a prestigious award. Singing and directing over these many years have brought me a great deal of satisfaction, and I hope I’ve been able to bring some joy and happiness to the many people who have experienced my work. This honour will be cherished.
A scene from The Gondoliers. Pic EDGAS
Formed in 1924 as an appreciation society, EDGAS began annual public performances in 1946, which are now its main activity. The company also performs concerts ranging from orchestral singalongs of the operas to smaller concert party visits to a variety of venues, such as churches and nursing homes.
The company were awarded International Champions of the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival 2024. EDGAS will return to the Kings Theatre in 2026 if it has, indeed, reopened as planned, with a production of Iolanthe. It will be performing a sing-along performance of H.M.S. Pinafore at the New Town Church on June 21.
David Lyle was invited to be Musical Director for the premieres of The Tumbling Lassie and Dandie Dinmont, new short operas by Alexander McCall Smith and the late Edinburgh composer Tom Cunningham. In August, he will return for the ninth consecutive visit to the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, at Buxton, as guest Musical Director.
His specialist field is the music of Sullivan and he has now conducted commercial recording of all the composer’s non-Gilbert works, including the first ever of Sullivan’s only grand opera, Ivanhoe.
His performance in Edinburgh of Sullivan’s cantata, The Golden Legend, won first prize in the Choral Music for the Millennium Competition, organised by the British Music Association. He is an Honorary Vice-President of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society.
Alan Borthwick has also been in consistent demand as a professional director, including with EDGAS, Tayside Opera, and collaborations with Alexander McCall Smith on a series of new Scottish operas. In the summer months he collaborates with the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, where he has previously won “Best Director”.
He holds a first-class honours degree in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy and is an Associate Lecturer for the Open University where he lectures in Mathematics to degree level. For the BBC, he has recorded a series of mathematical videos and has set the questions for a quiz about musical theatre.
ENDS
