My Freeman award is such a great honour (From Ledbury Reporter)

My Freeman award is such a great honour

7:10am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Ledbury

A DISTINGUISHED musician who grew up in Guarlford has been made a Freeman of the City of London.

Berendina Cook, aged 53, went to Malvern Primary School and was well-known for her musical abilities.

She made an impression in local music festivals both on piano and violin, and led the county youth orchestra before leaving for university.

She graduated with honours in music from Royal Holloway College and gained her licentiate from the Royal College of Music. After working as a civil servant, she returned to music, teaching at the Royal Grammar School in Guildford. She now lives in Surrey.

She was also a successful as half of a piano duo which won the prestigious Kodama Prize in Japan in the International Piano Duo Competition.

She said: “It’s a great honour, but the real honour is being made a member of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

“I think it used to mean you could drive a flock of sheep across London Bridge, but not any more.”