SCOTLAND’S GREATEST living composer and one of Britain’s most prominent educationalists were honoured at the winter graduation ceremony of the University of Abertay Dundee.

Dr James MacMillan CBE, received an honorary doctorate of music, and Professor Brenda Gourley, vice-chancellor of the Open University, received an honorary doctorate of education at the ceremony.

James MacMillan is a composer of international renown and also a conductor greatly in demand by the world’s leading orchestras and ensembles.

“Since his international career was launched at the BBC Proms in 1990, Dr MacMillan’s orchestral and choral works have been performed by orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He is currently composer/conductor with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

His debut work, The Confession Of Isobel Gowdie, has been performed more than 300 times around the world, but he has not rested on his laurels, and now has 120 published works to his credit.

Dr MacMillan’s work has been extensively recorded, with several discs winning industry awards in addition to selling well.

Professor Gourley became vice-chancellor of the Open University in 2002, having previously led the University of Natal in South Africa through a successful transformation at a time of great political change.

Professor Gourley is an accountant by training, and has held chairs in accounting and finance, and also been a dean of economics and management.

She is committed to the Open University’s social justice agenda and to education as a force for social good.

A frequent speaker on a broad range of platforms and issues, as well as a contributor to publications around the world, Professor Gourley has also received honorary degrees from Nottingham University and Richmond University. She has been named as one of the global business network’s “remarkable people.”

Professor Mike Swanston, vice-principal, said, “Professor Gourley has had a global influence on advancing the education of women in developing countries and is a strong believer in education as a tool to tackle the growing inequalities between the haves and have-nots in the global society.

“Dr MacMillan’s art draws heavily on his Scottish Roman Catholic upbringing and his strongly-held political beliefs.

“He is passionate about introducing contemporary music to communities that might not otherwise come into contact with it.

“We congratulate Professor Gourley and Dr MacMillan on their outstanding achievements and are delighted to pay tribute to each of them by the award of the university’s honorary degrees.

“We extend to both a very warm welcome to the University of Abertay Dundee.”