International Association of People in Music (Международный союз музыкальных деятелей) celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2017. According to Professor Aleksandr Sokolov, President of the Society and Rector of the Moscow Conservatory, the association decided to honour the composer Arvo Pärt for his outstanding contribution to the development of music with the honorary title of Honored Artist of Music. This title has previously been awarded to the conductors Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Valery Gergiev and Yuri Temirkanov, among others.
Arvo Pärt is sincerely grateful for this recognition.