The Ivors Academy has announced Sir James MacMillan as the recipient of the Academy Fellowship.

It is the highest honor bestowed by the Academy and the Fellowship will be awarded at the Barbican on March 15 where McMillan will be conducting the UK premiere of his work “Fiat Lux” with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus, soprano Mary Bevan and baritone Roderick Williams.

McMillan is receiving the award in recognition of his compositional excellence, immense impact, and enduring legacy in the world of music creation. Over the his career he has worked over 200 works in his catalog and is known as one of the most successful living composers. He founded his own music festival, The Cumnock Tryst was awarded a CBE in 2004.

In a statement, Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy said, “It is a great privilege to welcome Sir James MacMillan as the latest Fellow of The Ivors Academy. A prolific and globally-renowned composer, Sir James is a foremost proponent of the power of music to communicate and forge bonds. He is a titan of music, generous in his creativity and craft, and extremely worthy of this recognition from his peers.”

Regarding his award Sir James MacMillan said, “It is a great delight and honour to be welcomed as a new Fellow of the Ivors Academy. It is humbling to read the list of Fellows and I will take this opportunity to rededicate my energies to the power of music and its mysterious ability to transform lives.”