ISM Honours John McCabe
19 January 2004
The eminent composer, pianist, author, scholar and administrator John McCabe CBE has been honoured with the Incorporated Society of Musicians' Distinguished Musician Award for 2003.
The ISM Council makes the Award to acknowledge a colleague's outstanding contribution to British musical life. The previous recipients are Sir Alexander Gibson, Sir William Walton, Sir Peter Pears, Sir Adrian Boult, Sir James Galway, Jacqueline du Pre, Janet Craxton, Sir Michael Tippett, Sir Reginald Goodall, Sir Charles Groves, Sir Simon Rattle, Norman Del Mar, Witold Lutoslawski, Julian Bream, Sir Colin Davis, George Malcolm, Christopher Hogwood, Sir David Willcocks, Fanny Waterman, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir Charles Mackerras.
John McCabe was nominated for the Award by Kenneth H˙tch, the ISM's Council member for the Society's Eastern region. The citation read as follows:
'The phrase 'all-round musician' is surely no more aptly applied in the contemporary musical scene than to John McCabe - a world-renowned composer, pianist, administrator, musicologist and author, with a prodigious CV to his name.
'From such a distinguished and varied career, it is possible only to highlight a few of his most notable achievements.
'Perhaps best known as a composer who has shown his awareness of many shades and styles of contemporary music, but always produces music that is of himself. His output has been described as "whole-life enhancing and optimistic".
'Parallel with this, he has followed a career as a much sought-after concert pianist in his own right. Never forgetting his other vocation, John McCabe has supported many a contemporary composer in the performances he has given of their works.
'As if these two careers were not enough, mention must be made of his scholarly insight into the music of other composers, shown through the publication of books on Bartok, Haydn, Rachmaninov and Alan Rawsthorne.
'It is therefore most fitting that the ISM should honour a man who has contributed so much to so many different facets of the musical life of this country.'
John McCabe himself said:
'I am extremely honoured … and delighted to accept … not least because it is a very morale-boosting support from one's own colleagues and peers … the list of previous Award winners makes me realise how fortunate I am to be counted in their company - it is certainly a most distinguished roll-call of honour. Thank you all … this means a great deal to me.'
Ends 02/2004
Note to Editors: The ISM, founded in 1882, is the UK's professional body for all musicians. It promotes the art of music and upholds the honour and interests of the musical profession by protecting the interests of musicians, raising professional standards, and providing legal advice and other benefits to its 5,000 members, who include performers, teachers, composers, conductors, organists, writers and others involved in professional musical work. The ISM established its Distinguished Musician Award in 1976. The Award is a silver medallion, bearing the ISM logo and engraved on the reverse with the recipient's name.
Contact: Neil Hoyle, tel: 020 7629 4413
