The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK and so we were therefore both honoured and delighted to learn that Ms Nikki Iles, Music Teacher here at Bedford School was awarded with the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for services to music in this year’s honours.
The British Empire Medal (BEM) is awarded for the contribution of very ‘hands-on’ service to the community, which in Nikki’s case was delivered through years of working with, and developing music ability in children right across Bedford Borough and in London.
For 10 years Nikki has taught Jazz Piano and run big bands such as Groove Collective and small improvising groups at both Bedford School, Bedford Girls’ School and Bedford Modern School, as well as teaching at The Royal Academy of Music, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Middlesex University in London. Nikki is an active performer as a jazz pianist and composer.
Speaking on receiving the BEM, Nikki said, “I was notified just before Christmas with a letter from the palace, and to be honest, was initially very surprised and even phoned them up to check they had the right person! However, I am really honoured and delighted to receive this award. I feel its very important to teach and try to inspire younger students during those all important early stages. When I moved to Bedford, it was equally important to be involved in some way in our local community.”
If this was not accolade enough, Nikki also won the prestigious Ivor Novello Award in the 2021 Ivors Composer Awards, which are recognised as the pinnacle of music achievement and celebrate creative excellence in composing and song writing. Nikki received the award in a ceremony at the British Museum on 8 December for her work on the jazz composition; The Caged Bird. Written for jazz bands, it was first performed by the Royal Academy Big Band at the Royal Academy of Music’s Dukes Hall. Nikki wrote the piece during the early stages of the lockdown in 2020 when her work and new collaborations were cancelled.
Nikki explained that, “the whole process of writing this piece was the start of re-connecting me to my music and it gently evolved, reflecting my journey through this time”.
The Ivors Academy jury for this category referred to the piece as “beautifully crafted, balanced and realised”.
Nikki has been a champion of music here at Bedford School for many years and currently directs the Bedford School Jazz Orchestra as well as teaching jazz piano. She has inspired many students over the years including Lower Sixth Former Gideon Chan who told us, “Miss Iles is an extremely caring teacher. She is patient and kind during lessons and rehearsals, and I enjoy being challenged and put forward to demanding opportunities such as playing piano at the Jazz Orchestra. Her arrangements and music that we play are enjoyable and up to our level, while leaving us a little bit to challenge ourselves.”
Dom Childs, Head of Woodwind and Brass, commented, “We are honoured and privileged to have such an inspirational figure, who is respected worldwide as being at the very top of her profession, working at Bedford School. I have no doubt that Nikki’s compositions and recordings will be appreciated as some of the most important ever written and recorded and be listened to by many a future generation of jazz lovers.”