James MacMillan

Sir James Loy MacMillan (born 16 July 1959) is a Scottish classical composer and conductor. Early life and education MacMillan was born at Kilwinning, in North Ayrshire, but lived in the East Ayrshire town of Cumnock until 1977. His father is James MacMillan, a carpenter, and his mother is Ellen MacMillan (née Loy). He studied musical composition at the University of Edinburgh with Rita McAllister and Kenneth Leighton, obtaining a BMus degree in 1981, and later at Durham University with John Casken, where he completed a PhD in Composition in 1987. At Durham he was a member of the College of St Hild and St Bede as an undergraduate student and the Graduate Society while studying for his doctorate. He was a lecturer in music at the Victoria University of Manchester from 1986 to 1988. After his studies, MacMillan returned to Scotland, composing prolifically, and becoming Associate Composer with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, often working on education projects. As a young man he was briefly a member of the Young Communist League. The work’s international acclaim spurred more high-profile commissions, including a percussion concerto for fellow Scot Evelyn Glennie: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel.