The Executive Chairman of the Isle of Man Arts Council, Sam Alder, has recently been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts for Philanthropy and Services to Music by City University, London.

Mr Alder was born and educated on the Isle of Man at King Williams College, where he is now Chairman of the Board of Governors. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and working in the City of London, his career took him into the music industry where he managed such acts as T-Rex, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music and Brian Eno. He is also a founder investor in several commercial radio stations, including 3FM on the Isle of Man. It was for his involvement with Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy that Sam was awarded his Honorary Doctorate.

A national charity established in 1976, Nordoff-Robbins Music therapy has earned the respect and support of professional musicians from the popular and classical worlds, eminent physicians, psychologists, educationalist and many others. The charity is highly supported by the rock music industry and provides over 30,000 music therapy sessions at over 50 locations nationwide each year. The charity set up a Master of Music Therapy course for therapists, which is validated by City University.

He has played a central role in Nordoff-Robbins corporate development for over thirty years beginning as Treasurer and from 1997 to 2007 acting as Chairman of the Board of Governors.

Mr Alder was appointed to the Isle of Man Arts Council in 2002 and has been Executive Chairman since 2006.