The Ivors Academy has announced Italian pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi will become a Fellow of The Ivors Academy, the organisation's highest honour.
The most streamed classical composer of all time, Einaudi will be inducted into Fellowship at The Ivors Composer Awards at Grosvenor House in London on November 17 in recognition of his "extraordinary contribution to contemporary composition and his profound impact on audiences around the world".
He will also take part as a speaker at The Ivors Academy Composer Summit the following day at the Royal Institution.
“I grew up listening to a lot of British music, and its artists have shaped my musical world and continue to inspire me," said Einaudi. "The UK was the first country to truly embrace my music, and over the years it has become a much-loved second home. To be welcomed into the Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, among so many artists I admire, is a great honour.”
Ludovico Einaudi has brought intelligent and beautiful contemporary instrumental music to audiences on an extraordinary scale
Lord Neri, The Ivors Academy
In addition to his albums, Einaudi has also composed for film (This Is England, Nomadland, The Father), TV (Doctor Zhivago, Derek), theatre and dance. He has also performed sold-out shows at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, the Berliner Philharmonie and The O2.
“Ludovico Einaudi has brought intelligent and beautiful contemporary instrumental music to audiences on an extraordinary scale," said Lord Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy. "His success demonstrates the immense cultural value of composition and its power to connect people across generations and languages. At The Ivors Academy, we believe composers deserve recognition for the creativity and originality that enrich our lives. We are delighted to welcome Ludovico into our Fellowship and celebrate his exceptional contribution to music and culture.”
Fellows of The Ivors Academy include Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, U2, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sting, Joan Armatrading, Judith Weir, James MacMillan and Thom Yorke.
Ludovico Einaudi is a true pioneer, creating a musical language entirely his own
Tom Gray, The Ivors Academy
Tom Gray, chair of The Ivors Academy, said: “Ludovico Einaudi is a true pioneer, creating a musical language entirely his own. A master of minimalism, his compositions are instantly recognisable yet continue to surprise and move us. He has followed his artistic instincts throughout his career, creating an extraordinary body of work that crosses musical boundaries. Fellowship is the highest honour we bestow, and it is a privilege to recognise a composer whose music has touched so many lives.”
Hosted by radio presenter Petroc Trelawny, the Ivors Composer Awards is a new dedicated ceremony celebrating excellence in composition across all genres and disciplines. Earlier this month, The Ivors Academy announced 36 nominees across nine categories and revealed that Oscar-nominated composer Max Richter will receive an Ivor Novello Award for Innovation.
The awards are sponsored by PRS For Music and presented in association with BBC Radio 3, with highlights from the event to be broadcast across the Radio 3 schedule. The ceremony will form part of the inaugural Ivors Composer Week from November 16-20.
