James MacMillan (b.1959)
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Scotland's Finest: 15 musical heroes that put Scotland on the classical map
12. James MacMillan (b.1959)
The pre-eminent Scottish composer of today, James MacMillan was born at Kilwinning in North Ayrshire, but lived in the East Ayrshire town of Cumnock until 1977. He studied composition at the University of Edinburgh and at Durham University where he gained a PhD in 1987. His music combines rhythmic excitement, raw emotional power and spiritual meditation.
