One of the University of Aberdeen’s top music scholars has accepted a prestigious award – by singing a lullaby.
Gifted singer Anne Herbert, a fourth year BMus(Ed) student, was awarded the Ogston Prize in Music Making at a special ceremony in the MacRobert building on Tuesday, February 20.
Ms Herbert broke into song after being presented with a £1,000 winner's cheque by former University Senior Vice-Principal, Professor Derek Ogston, who commissioned the new composition to celebrate the birth of his first granddaughter, Elsa.
The Ogston Prize is awarded annually to a student studying at the University of Aberdeen who has made an outstanding contribution to music-making.
Ms Herbert's performance was accompanied by Dr Pete Stollery, Head of the School of Music, who said she richly deserved her win.
"Anne has made a huge contribution to the musical life of the community both within and out with the University and is a more than worthy winner of the prize.
"We're also very grateful for Professor Ogston's continuing support as the prize is such an encouragement to our students in their activities at the University as well as across Aberdeen."
Ms Herbert is a Senior Choral Scholar of the Chapel Choir and has taken part as a singer and an accompanist in many of the music ensembles in the university. She is also a member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society and has been musical director for Treading the Boards.
Lullaby for Elsa was composed by Dr Paul Mealor, Senior Lecturer in Music at the University, with words provided by Margaret Carlaw, Professor Ogston's cousin.
Anne said: "I'm delighted to be chosen and very grateful to Derek Ogston and to all my friends and colleagues in the Music Department for their help during my time at the University."
Professor Ogston CBE, FRSE, is a previous Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and a former Senior Vice-Principal of the University of Aberdeen. Over five decades he has gained seven degrees from the University of Aberdeen: in addition to medicine he has included history of art and theology in his studies.