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RWCMD's Honorary Fellows 2026: here for the arts, Wales and the future
As the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama launches its new strategic framework, we are delighted to be celebrating key distinguished artists and cultural leaders whose achievements, influence and commitment embody the values at the heart of our College.
As the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama launches its new strategic framework, we are delighted to be celebrating key distinguished artists and cultural leaders whose achievements, influence and commitment embody the values at the heart of our College.
Our 2026 Fellows will be honoured at our graduation ceremonies in the Dora Stoutzker Hall across Thursday 9th and Friday 10th July.
An RWCMD Honorary Fellowship recognises individuals whose contribution to the arts have shaped lives, strengthened communities and enriched cultural life in Wales and beyond. Each of our newest Fellows not only reflects these contributions, but also the key themes of our new strategy – that we are here for the arts, Wales and the future.
This year the College welcomes as Honorary Fellows:
- Sara Beer, Director for Change for Craidd
- Sarah Crabtree and Adele Thomas, co-CEOs/General Directors of WNO
- Toks Dada, RWCMD graduate and Head of Classical Music at Southbank Centre
- Ben Goldscheider, horn player, soloist and chamber musician
- Hayley Grindle, RWCMD graduate and set and costume designer
- Pino Palladino, legendary Welsh bass guitarist
Olivier award-winning actor Anjana Vasan, and Sicilian-born soprano Nuccia Focile, awarded their Fellowships in absentia in 2025 and 2020 respectively, will also be attending this year’s graduation ceremonies to receive their awards.
‘I’m delighted to welcome this year’s Fellows, all of them distinctly original and influential artists who are industry change-makers, with a belief in the power of community and engagement, and a deep commitment to excellence in craft.
Together, our Fellows help us build a vibrant, inclusive community and support the next generation of creative leaders. As the arts continue to face significant challenges, it feels more important than ever to celebrate those who continue to advocate for their value, enriching our lives and reminding us of the vital role creativity plays in society.’Helena GauntRWCMD Principal
Shaping the industry of the future
This year’s Fellows include two graduates, highlighting the College’s commitment to developing expert practitioners equipped for sustainable careers in a rapidly changing world. Their achievements reflect the College’s strategy of nurturing creative leaders who shape their disciplines and influence the future of the industry.
Toks Dada graduated with an undergraduate degree in Music, before completing his Masters degree in Arts Management. During his time at the College, he founded the commissioning and producing company Sinfonia Newydd, and served as the first student Chair of the College’s student enterprise initiative RepCo. He was made an Honorary Associate of the College in 2020. Since then, he has worked as a curator, speaker and strategist within the UK and internationally. He is now Head of Classical Music at London’s Southbank Centre, the home of six Resident Orchestras, where he continues to lead innovation at a national scale and reimagine what the future of classical music can be. He has initiated a number of pioneering, landmark projects designed for first-time audiences, and co-developed ‘Crescendo’, a first-of-its-kind partnership with TikTok, supporting emerging content creators in the classical space.
His Fellowship recognises his contribution as an advocate for change within the classical music sector, championing new approaches to audience engagement, widening participation, and connecting with new and younger audiences.
Design for Performance graduate Hayley Grindle has built an outstanding career across UK and international theatres. Her work includes the award-winning ‘Iphigenia in Splott’ with National Theatre and the Sherman Theatre, and ‘Our Town’, the inaugural production for Welsh National Theatre with Michael Sheen. Her portfolio reflects both versatility and depth, and she is a specialist in championing access within stage design. She is also an Associate Artist with Sherman Cymru. As a leading voice in Welsh theatre, her continued connection to the College inspires current students and emerging artists.
Both Fellows maintain strong relationships with the College, regularly returning to deliver masterclasses, demonstrating the importance of creative exchange, mentorship, and lifelong artistic community.
Championing inclusion, collaboration and transformational change
Working with Craidd and Sara Beer, its Director for Change, the College actively contributes to sector-wide transformation. This Arts Council of Wales funded initiative works to create lasting change for Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists and audiences, reflecting the College’s focus on widening participation.
Passionate about increasing representation of Deaf and disabled people in the creative industries, Sara has a performance background, spending most of her career working within disability arts and culture, working with companies such as Graeae, National Theatre Wales, and Hijinx. Sara spent 15 years working with Disability Arts Cymru, supporting disabled artists across Wales, running projects and creating showcasing opportunities. She also coordinated and directed productions for the Unusual Stage School, DAC’s company of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent performers which provided training as well as performance opportunities.
This award recognises her life-long devotion to the creation of a pan-Wales infrastructure which supports opportunity and potential for young performers.
Sarah Crabtree and Adele Thomas, co-CEOs/General Directors of Welsh National Opera (WNO), represent a powerful model of collaborative, forward-thinking leadership, aligned with the College’s emphasis on partnership, innovation, and shared practice.
Sarah Crabtree, formerly Creative Producer at the Royal Opera, is a passionate advocate for progressive working methods and shared leadership. Her work includes being a change partner with Ramps on the Moon, the English version of Craidd, supporting the integration of anti-ableist practice across the cultural sector.
Adele Thomas is an internationally acclaimed Welsh director, recognised with Olivier Award nominations for Best New Opera Production. Alongside her work at the College, she has directed productions at major institutions including the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne and Shakespeare’s Globe. Known for her bold, visually striking productions and emotionally resonant storytelling, her work reflects a commitment to making opera dynamic, relevant and accessible.
Together, Sarah and Adele champion a spirit of ‘permission to be brave,’ bringing innovative opera to new and unexpected audiences, and reflecting the College’s ambition to push boundaries while remaining rooted in powerful storytelling.
A beacon for artistic excellence across the globe
The College continues to be a beacon for excellence on the global stage, reflected in the achievements of its Fellows and its ongoing connections with world-class artists.
Ben Goldscheider is an internationally recognised musician who has premiered over 50 new works for horn, spanning concerti, solo, chamber, and cross-genre projects. He has given recitals at major concert halls across Europe and performed as a soloist with BBC Symphony Orchestra, Das Sinfonie Orchester Berlin, Philharmonie Zuidnederland and Prague Philharmonia, amongst others.
A BBC Young Musician Concerto Finalist, YCAT Artist, and ECHO Rising Star, he represents a new generation of forward-thinking performers reshaping the classical music landscape. As an RWCMD Artist in Association, he remains closely engaged with the College, recently leading an Open RWCMD instrument day that brought over 50 French horn players to the Dora Stoutzker Hall, demonstrating his commitment to inspiring emerging talent.
Legendary Welsh bass guitarist Pino Palladino brings nearly five decades of global influence as a songwriter, producer and bassist. Renowned for shaping the sound of D’Angelo’s ‘Voodoo’ and ‘Black Messiah’, and winning a Grammy Award in 2016, his career spans collaborations with artists such as Elton John, The Who, David Gilmour and Adele. His influence can be heard across generations of bass players, and he remains one of the most sought-after musicians in contemporary music. Known for his understated virtuosity and unmistakable feel, Pino Palladino has earned a reputation as a musician's musician—an artist whose contributions have shaped some of the most memorable recordings of the last forty years.
His recent return to Cardiff for a special homecoming concert at the College, as part of the Cardiff Music City Festival, and his recognition by the Welsh Music Prize with the Welsh Music Inspiration Award, underline his international stature and deep connection to Wales. His affinity with the College positions him as a powerful ambassador, particularly within jazz, strengthening its global reach and industry connections.
