Gabriella Di Laccio Awarded MBE for Services to Music and Gender Equality
We are beyond proud to share that our founder, Gabriella Di Laccio, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty The King’s 2025 Birthday Honours List for her outstanding services to music and gender equality.
A globally recognised soprano, cultural changemaker, and tireless advocate, Gabriella’s work spans beyond the stage. Through her leadership at the Donne Foundation, she has become a powerful voice for those historically silenced in the music industry – bringing awareness, creating a global community, sharing important data and creative solutions to challenge the systemic inequalities that have shaped music’s past and present.
From starting the Donne Foundation and building accessible tools that highlight the vast and often unseen contributions of women composers, Gabriella has consistently used her platform as a performer and leader to advance equality through artistry, research, and action.
This honour acknowledges Gabriella’s artistic excellence and it recognises her vision and determination to build a world where inclusion in music is the standard, not the exception.
At Donne, we see this as an important moment for everyone who believes in fair representation in music. Gabriella’s dedication continues to drive our work to break down barriers and make sure every voice has a place.
This MBE is not just a personal accolade—it is a resounding acknowledgment of the vital link between artistic excellence and social impact. Gabriella’s journey is a shining example of how one voice can help lift many.
We’re proud to celebrate this recognition and will keep working toward her goal: a music industry that truly includes and reflects everyone.
For journalists and anyone who would like to help us share this news, the full press release is available HERE.
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“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition, and I share it with all the women who came before me – those who paved the way and inspired me – as well as every woman whose voice was silenced or overlooked, and whose music we still don’t know,” Gabriella said.
“This is a call to keep making a difference through my music and my actions, and to inspire others to do the same.”
