Sir James Macmillan Awarded The Musicians’ Company Collard Life Fellowship
The Musicians Company’s Collard Life Fellowship has only had four previous holders since its inception in 1931, Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells and Peter Maxwell Davies. The Musicians’ Company added a new Fellow to this distinguished list when Sir James MacMillan was given this honour at the Musicians’ Company’s Installation Dinner on Tuesday 15th November, in recognition of the great contribution that Sir James has made to British musical life. Sir James’s compositions cover many musical genres which the Company supports from choral, orchestral and opera to brass bands.
Associated with its widespread support for young musicians, the Musicians’ Company has a long tradition of recognising creative talent and the contribution that distinguished artists have made to the music profession.
Each year the Musicians’ Company, one of the oldest and most respected charitable companies in the City of London, donates over £250,000 in scholarships and awards in support of young musicians at the start of their careers across all musical disciplines.
Sir James said:
“I am deeply honoured and delighted to have been given this award. I feel humbled and touched to have been considered for the Collard Life Fellowship, and had to pinch myself when I looked at the signatures of the previous Fellows, whose music I have loved and admired all my life. It is a great happiness for me to have been embraced by the Worshipful Company of Musicians considering the inspiring work they do for musicians in a tradition that goes back centuries.”