A former bank chief has been awarded a CBE by the Queen for his services to the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO).

Philanthropist Jonathan Moulds has been a patron of the orchestra based at the Barbican in Silk Street since 2001 and made the largest single gift in its history in 2012. He has also been on the LSO’s board of directors since 2005 and is chairman of its development board, advisory council and the Moving Music campaign.

Although he is a gifted violin and viola player himself – even getting an instrumental scholarship while studying maths and physics at Cambridge – Mr Moulds spent his entire professional career in banking, retiring two years ago as the European CEO of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Since then he has continued to support charitable causes.

Mr Moulds, whose collection of violins is world-renowned with a number of instruments on loan to musicians including Nicola Benedetti, said: “To be involved with the LSO, which has some extraordinary players, is a tremendous experience.”

Managing director of the LSO, Kathryn McDowell, said: “We are very proud that his long service to the LSO has been recognised in this way.”

As well as his work with the LSO, Mr Moulds also chairs the Arts and Business Leadership team and sits on the board of the Mayor’s Music Fund.

This year he will also be supporting the LSO International Violin Festival: twelve concerts between April and June, featuring twelve of the world’s greatest violinists.