Guildhall School announces new Fellows, Honorary Fellows and prize winners at Graduation Day 2026

The Fellowship is Guildhall School's highest accolade, recognising outstanding achievement or service to the School by past and present members of our staff, members of our Board of Governors and former students, with Honorary Fellowships recognising outstanding professional achievement or service to the School by practitioners who do not have a formal connection with us.

Those made Fellows of the School at our 2026 Graduation ceremonies included alumni Saskia Reeves and Chris Laurence; current staff members Nikki Iles BEM and Carole Presland; and longstanding Junior Guildhall staff member James Wilson, who was awarded the Fellowship posthumously following his sad passing in 2025.  

Honorary Fellowships were awarded to Errollyn Wallen CBE, Pedja Mužijević, Vicki Dela Amedume, Vicky Beeching, Deborah Lincoln and Felicity Guinness.

Vicki Dela Amedume and Pedja Mužijević were invited to address our graduating Class of 2026 during the Graduation ceremonies, which took place at the City of London’s historic Guildhall on Friday 6 November 2026.

Both ceremonies also included addresses by Guildhall School Principal Professor Jonathan Vaughan, Chair of our Board of Governors The Honourable Emily Benn, and graduating student speakers Sofia Gallego Kent (Music Therapy 2026) and Lara Ali (Flute 2026). Our Patron, The Right Honourable The Lady Mayor, was represented at the Graduation ceremonies by Sheriff Prem Goyal and Alderman Vincent Keaveny CBE.

Those made Fellows of the School were:

Fellows

• Nikki Iles BEM jazz pianist, composer and arranger; Principal Conductor, NDR Big Band; jazz piano professor at Guildhall School
• Chris Laurence jazz and classical double bassist; Guildhall School alumnus
• Carole Presland pianist; keyboard tutor at Guildhall School
• Saskia Reeves actor; Guildhall School alumna
• James Wilson Junior Guildhall team member (awarded posthumously)

Honorary Fellows

• Vicky Beeching singer-songwriter; LGBTQ equality campaigner and commentator 
• Vicki Dela Amedume MBE aerial and circus-based artist; Founder and Artistic Director, Upswing
• Felicity Guinness Guildhall School benefactor and supporter
• Deborah Lincoln former Chair of the Guildhall School Trust
• Pedja Mužijević pianist, curator and arts administrator
• Errollyn Wallen CBE composer; Master of the King’s Music

Those awarded special prizes were:

• Daniel Francis Carter Gold Medal (Acting)
• Lili Ann Grace Warden Gold Medal (Production & Design) & Principal’s Prize
• Evie Karena Kaisi Lady Mayor’s Prize
• Benjamin Toby Django Loska Mayoral Consort’s Prize
• Triumph Mbambi Menga Sheriff’s Prize
• Christa Yap Shin Yee Sheriff’s Prize
• Lara Aisha Ali Chair’s Prize
• Annie Elena Chown Deputy Chair’s Prize
• Eduard Marcu Lutine Prize

Both Graduation ceremonies are available to watch via our website.

_{Photograph: The 2026 Fellows and Honorary Fellows with Professor Jonathan Vaughan (Principal) and The Honourable Emily Benn (Chair).}