Academic and musician receives honorary degree

Academic, musician and conductor Professor Michael Thorne CBE received the award of Honorary Doctor of Music from Anglia Ruskin University during a graduation ceremony at the Cambridge Corn Exchange yesterday (Thursday).

Michael Thorne is a passionate Wagnerian, and former Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University.

Some people may say that mathematics is pure logic, and music pure emotion - yet the possibility of connections between the two has fuelled endless academic debate. Michael Thorne’s achievements in both fields provide compelling evidence that this theoretical connection is real.

With a first-class degree in Mathematics from the University of London, and a PhD in Computational Group Theory from the University of Birmingham, Professor Thorne’s mathematical abilities are unquestioned. And his musical gifts are equally impressive – he is a talented bassoonist and a highly respected conductor.

Michael began his career in academia at University College London in 1978. In 1979 he was recruited by Cardiff University, where he was to spend the next decade. And in 1989 he made his move into management at Sunderland University, where he served as Pro Vice Chancellor. In 1998 he was appointed Vice Principal of Napier University in Edinburgh. And in 2001 Michael was appointed Vice Chancellor at the University of East London, where he furthered his reputation as an inspiring leader.

Professor Thorne came to Anglia Ruskin as Vice Chancellor in 2007, and his impact was both immediate and long-lasting. Demonstrating remarkable drive and energy, he led our university into a period of unprecedented growth in student numbers – across undergraduate and post-graduate programmes, and also in the number of research students.

Research was at the very top of his agenda – Professor Thorne felt passionately that if our university was to be recognized internationally, then progress must be built on a foundation of world-leading research. Anglia Ruskin subsequently grew the number of doctorates on the staff, and doubled the number of world-leading REF entries.

Professor Thorne was equally passionate about promoting teamwork and institutional pride at Anglia Ruskin, and he was instrumental in creating a positive, upbeat approach to achieving goals and overcoming challenges. For concrete evidence of his achievements, we only have to look to Anglia Ruskin’s Innovation Centre for Medical and Advanced Engineering, and the Postgraduate Medical Institute, which laid the foundations for our new School of Medicine.

In parallel with his academic career, Professor Thorne has been an active musician and conductor.

In the 1980s he conducted the Cardiff Chamber Orchestra and the City of Cardiff Symphony Orchestra. In the 1990s he conducted the New Tyneside Orchestra and the Tynedale Symphony Orchestra. And each year from 2001 to 2013, he conducted a Wagner opera with the Edinburgh Players Opera Group, including two complete Ring Cycles.

In 2016, in recognition of his services to education, Michael was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Professor Iain Martin, Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University (pictured right, with Professor Thorne), said: “Professor Thorne is a celebrated mathematician, musician, and a visionary academic leader with long-standing links to our University. We are delighted to welcome back Michael Thorne to our Anglia Ruskin community.”



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