Ralph Kohn
Encyclopedia
Sir Ralph Kohn FRS
(born 9 December 1927) is a British businessman, recipient of the Queen's Award for Export Achievement for his work in the pharmaceutical industry. Educated at Salford Grammar School, he won a scholarship to Manchester University where he obtained a PhD
degree in pharmacology.
In 1991, he set up the Kohn Foundation, which supports research and innovation in science and medicine, as well as the arts and education. The foundation endows several prizes for young scientists and musicians. It also supports the Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize
and the Royal Academy of Music / Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series.
Kohn was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society
in 2006, in recognition of his contributions to science via the Kohn Foundation. He is also an honorary fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
. In November 2008, he delivered the Bynum Tudor Lecture at Kellogg College, University of Oxford
.
His interests include music and singing (baritone
). In 2004, he was a guest on Sue Lawley
's BBC Radio 4
radio programme, Desert Island Discs
.
Ralph Kohn financed John Eliot Gardiner’s Bach Cantatas project: “We should give them [artists]the sort of means which will allow them to lead a reasonable existence where they can devote themselves with heart, soul and body to their work,” Kohn says. “But the patron should not be their possessor. As Clifford Curzon once said: ‘Isn’t it nice that we can give something to young artists so that we can lift them closer to the stars.’ That’s all it’s about.”
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5809887.ece
He was knighted
in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to science, music and charity.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(born 9 December 1927) is a British businessman, recipient of the Queen's Award for Export Achievement for his work in the pharmaceutical industry. Educated at Salford Grammar School, he won a scholarship to Manchester University where he obtained a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in pharmacology.
In 1991, he set up the Kohn Foundation, which supports research and innovation in science and medicine, as well as the arts and education. The foundation endows several prizes for young scientists and musicians. It also supports the Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize
Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize
The Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize is an award given by the Royal Academy of Music and sponsored by the Kohn Foundation to performers and scholars who have made an outstanding contribution to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach....
and the Royal Academy of Music / Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series.
Kohn was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society
Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society
An Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society is a person elected under special criteria to Fellowship of the Royal Society. They are ineligible in the other criteria for election as a Fellow or Foreign Member but have "rendered signal service to the cause of science, or whose election would...
in 2006, in recognition of his contributions to science via the Kohn Foundation. He is also an honorary fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
. In November 2008, he delivered the Bynum Tudor Lecture at Kellogg College, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
His interests include music and singing (baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
). In 2004, he was a guest on Sue Lawley
Sue Lawley
- Early life and education:Born in Sedgley, Staffordshire, England and brought up in the Black Country, she was educated at Dudley Girls High School and graduated in modern languages from the University of Bristol and some time later started her career at the BBC in Plymouth...
's BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
radio programme, Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...
.
Ralph Kohn financed John Eliot Gardiner’s Bach Cantatas project: “We should give them [artists]the sort of means which will allow them to lead a reasonable existence where they can devote themselves with heart, soul and body to their work,” Kohn says. “But the patron should not be their possessor. As Clifford Curzon once said: ‘Isn’t it nice that we can give something to young artists so that we can lift them closer to the stars.’ That’s all it’s about.”
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5809887.ece
He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to science, music and charity.