 Lisa Milne has been given the honour for services to opera |
An opera singer who launched a fierce attack on the Scottish Executive's arts policy has received public recognition in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Former Scottish Opera soprano Lisa Milne has been awarded an MBE for services to opera and music.
In February this year she was publicly critical of the executive's "pathetic" arts policy.
She contrasted money spent on the arts with the �431m cost of the new Scottish Parliament.
Ms Milne said she thought it appalling that Scottish Opera's purse strings could be tightened while a massive amount of money was spent on the Scottish Parliament.
 |  It's nice not only for myself but for my parents who have been behind me every step of the way |
On receiving the honour, the 34-year-old said she was "absolutely delighted".
She said: "I never expected this to happen to a wee lassie from Aberdeen.
"It's nice not only for myself but for my parents who have been behind me every step of the way."
New York debut
The Aberdeen-born singer studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She won several awards and prizes and made her professional opera debut as Gianetta in L'Elisir d'Amore.
In 1994 she took up a three-season principal contract with Scottish Opera and she has also appeared with the Welsh National Opera and the Stuttgart Opera.
She made her London recital debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and in 1998 made her Wigmore Hall and Edinburgh Festival debuts.
Ms Milne has appeared at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh and at the Royal Albert Hall with Jose Carreras.
She recently made her New York debut singing the Mozart Requiem at a Lincoln Center Mozart festival.
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