In its 400-year history, Judith Weir is the first female Master of the King’s Music looks ahead to the reign of King Charles III. At school, she was taught by renowned composer Sir John Tavener before studying under Robin Holloway at King’s College, Cambridge. She received the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2007, and in 2014 was ultimately appointed Master of the Queen’s Music for a 10-year period. Weir served Queen Elizabeth II in the role for eight years, and recalled Her Majesty’s pride in Britain’s military bands. Each branch of the British Armed Forces has its own musical wing with multiple ensembles each, in addition to state and regional bands from across the UK. With only two years left in the role of Master of the King’s Music, Weir is optimistic about King Charles III’s reign and what it will mean for musicians. King Charles is known to be a classical music enthusiast, having played cello as a young man, and Weir says “it will be marvellous for all of us musicians to have somebody like that as our head”.