• Scholarship to The Royal Academy of Music Studies Composition, Orchestration, Conducting, Piano, Organ

• BBC Classical Music Reviewer

• York University, England. BA Hons. Music

• York University & The National Film School - MA Film Music and the Visual Arts

• The first student of film music composition at the Film School.
  Graduates from The National Film School having completed 23 student film scores and studies production, direction, sound, cinematography, editing. 

• Becomes with two fellow students the first graduates of The National Film School to win the Oscar for "The Dollar Bottom" in the best short film category. 

• The Royal Academy of Music confers the degree of ARAM

• Elected First Chair of Music at The National Film and Television School of Great Britain 

• Archbishop Desmond Tutu confers Honorary Ph.D. at The University of the Western Cape

• The Royal Academy of Music confers the degree of FRAM

Nominations & Awards include:

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1985 - Ivor Novello Awards nomination for Best Theme for Television Production - "The Last Place on Earth"

1989 - British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) nomination for Best Original Film Score -   "Mississippi Burning"

1991 - Ivor Novello Awards nomination for Best Film Theme - "Arachnophobia"

1992 - British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) nomination for Best Original Film Score - "The Last of the Mohicans"

1992 - Golden Globe nomination Best Original Score - "Last of the Mohicans"

1992 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "The Last of the Mohicans"

1993 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "In the Name of the Father"

1994 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "Cliffhanger"

1996 - British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) nomination - Anthony Asquith Award for achievement in Film Music - "Brassed Off"

1997 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "GI Jane"

1998 - Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song - "The Mighty"

1998 - Emmy Awards Nomination for Outstanding Music Composition - "Merlin"

1999 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "Notting Hill"

2001 - Ivor Novello Awards nomination for Best Original Film Score - "Thirteen Days"

2001 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "From Hell"

2002 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "Dinotopia"

2003 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"

2004 - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award for "Around the World in 80 Days"

2006 - Japan Academy Prize for "Aegis"