YORK Guildhall Orchestra's musical director, Simon Wright, has been awarded an honorary fellowship by York St John University.

He was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the city’s orchestral presence by Vice Chancellor Professor Karen Stanton and Chair Ann Green, who thanked him for sharing his expertise and skill with the music students.

She said he had played a pivotal role in developing a strong working partnership between the orchestra and university. She said an annual 'Orchestra Day' on campus included the chance for students to play alongside orchestra members.

Orchestra spokesman Peter Vaughan said its partnership with the university had many beneficiaries: students, orchestra members and audiences.

"It encourages investment in very talented soloists to perform for us at the York Barbican and to give master classes to students and members of the public," he said.

"This investment in enhancing the orchestral life of York gives Simon and his orchestra every confidence to play in the company of our soloists and for our music-loving community. Thank you for this wonderful support - from our audience and our players."

He said the orchestra was one of the leading amateur/volunteer symphony orchestral ensembles in the North of England, regularly working with top class international soloists to perform of some of the most demanding large-scale works in the orchestral repertoire.

"As a conductor, Simon Wright has earned universal respect and acclaim for his interpretations of wide-ranging and challenging orchestral and choral repertoire," he said.

"Throughout his professional career, which includes roles as organist, accompanist, arranger and teacher, he has become established as a musician of enormous integrity, winning the admiration of musicians, audiences and critics alike.

"Simon has worked with and conducted orchestras across the UK, Europe and further afield in the USA and Canada, working with soloists including Placido Domingo, Bryn Terfel, Andrea Bocelli and Sir James Galway."