OSCAR-WINNING York film composer John Barry has been honoured with a posthumous Classical Brit Award in a ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Don Black, Barry’s friend and collaborator, accepted the Outstanding Contribution to Music award on his behalf from The Duchess of Cornwall, alongside British actress Virginia McKenna, who starred in Born Free, for which Barry won his first Oscar.

June Lloyd-Jones, the sister of the composer who died earlier this year, said the accolade did not surprise her.

“It’s great for him,” she said. “I don’t think this posthumous award has ever happened before so it’s great on his behalf.

“In my mind’s eye, I can imagine he would be very pleased.”

Coun David Horton, who will become Lord Mayor of York next week, and is behind a planned John Barry tribute show at the reopened Barbican, said the composer had already been recognised in his five Oscars, and he was pleased for his family and widow that Barry’s talent had been recognised further.

John Barry died in January, at the age of 77, following a heart attack. During his five-decade career, which began with local bands in York, he composed music for more than 100 films, including several James Bond themes as well as Midnight Cowboy, Out Of Africa and Dances With Wolves.

The awards on Thursday evening ended with a show-stopping selection of Barry’s work performed by the The London Chamber Orchestra and included a rendition of Goldfinger sung by Dame Shirley Bassey.

Don Black said: “John would have been so thrilled about this because he was a great lover of classical music.

“John’s music will always have a great influence on young composers and the scholarship that’s being set up in his name, just across the road at the Royal College of Music, will ensure that composers of the future will be encouraged to explore that magical space between classical music and music for the big screen,” he said.

York Press: The Press - Comment

Global accolade for a great son

IT is quite extraordinary that the son of a York music hall owner should have achieved quite the levels of global recognition that the great John Barry did.

But then Mr Barry was a quite extraordinary man. He won five Oscars during his lifetime.

And now he has been awarded with a posthumous Classical Brit in recognition of his Outstanding Contribution to Music.

The award ceremony on Thursday evening closed with a show-stopping selection of Mr Barry’s work performed by the London Chamber Orchestra, including a rendition of Goldfinger by Dame Shirley Bassey.

It was a wonderful tribute, and one Mr Barry’s sister, June Lloyd-Jones, who still lives in York, said her brother would have appreciated. “I can imagine he would be very pleased,” she said.

The tribute was no more than the great man deserved. For decades, his music lit up the film world. He left with us some of the most enduring film soundtracks of all time, including several classic Bond themes, Midnight Cowboy, Out Of Africa and Dances With Wolves.

Next month, his life will be celebrated in a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Later this year it will be York’s turn, with a concert planned at the newly reopened Barbican.

That will be the perfect opportunity to say farewell to this great son of York.

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