Martin James Bartlett Stars in Queen’s Thanksgiving Service

Friday 10 June 2016

Royal College of Music pianist and BBC Young Musician 2014 winner Martin James Bartlett performed for HM The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and other senior members of the Royal Family as part of the National Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s 90th birthday in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Martin provided the service’s solo musical interlude with a performance of Burlesque by Sir Arnold Bax, King George VI’s last Master of the King’s Music and The Queen’s first Master of the Queen’s Music.

In a BBC interview before the performance Martin commented 'This is the absolute pinnacle of my career so far … it’s wonderful to be at such a joyous event'. He also spoke of his delight at being connected to The Queen through her role as Patron of the Royal College of Music, a position held by Her Majesty since 1952.

The service, which began a weekend of 90th birthday celebrations for The Queen, also featured music by RCM composition alumni Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Ireland and Sir William Harris, as well as an arrangement by former RCM Director, Sir David Willcocks.

In addition to members of the Royal Family, the congregation featured current and former senior politicians, diplomats and governors general. The service was broadcast live on BBC One and is available to watch again via BBC iPlayer.