Pianist and lieder accompanist Graham Johnson is to be awarded the Wigmore Hall Medal on April 13 in recognition of his ‘unstinting championing of Song and his extraordinary achievements on the concert platform and in the recording studio.’ Established in 2007, the medal honours leading classical artists who have made a commitment to London’s Wigmore Hall over a significant period of time.

‘Graham founded the Songmakers’ Almanac in 1976 to explore neglected areas of piano-accompanied vocal music and to provide an alternative to the conventional song recital,’ said Wigmore Hall director John Gilhooly. ‘His fine programme and sleeve notes have greatly added to the wider understanding and interest in Song over the last 30 years and a wonderful discography includes outstanding recordings of the complete songs of both Schubert and Schumann for Hyperion. I can think of no other figure in the international music world who has done so much for the promotion of Lieder.’

Johnson will be presented with the medal following a gala concert featuring Sarah Connolly, Mark Padmore and others, celebrating the launch of his three-volume encyclopaedia Franz Schubert: The Complete Songs published by Yale University Press.

Previous recipients of the medal include Matthias Goerne (2007), András Schiff (2009), Dame Felicity Lott (2010), Thomas Quasthoff (2011) and Menahem Pressler (2012).