Jane O’Leary has been elected as an honorary member of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM), making her the first Irish composer ever to receive this distinction.
The honorary membership is awarded by the ISCM to honour internationally remarkable achievements in contemporary music. Jane joins a distinguished group of composers to have received this honour, among them Arvo Pärt, Maurice Ravel, Kaija Saariaho, Tōru Takemitsu and her former Professor at Princeton University, Milton Babbitt.
Jane was nominated by the Contemporary Music Centre (CMC), Ireland’s section of the ISCM. The nomination was presented by CMC Deputy Director Jonathan Grimes at the ISCM General Assembly during the 2026 World New Music Days festival in Bucharest, where Jane and Romanian composer Doina Rotaru were both voted in as honorary members.
On hearing the news, Jane said:
“I’m deeply honoured to join such a distinguished list of composers and thrilled to represent Ireland in this international context. It has been a privilege to work with musicians throughout my life, and I’m grateful to all who have shared this journey with me – teachers, performers, listeners, festival and concert promoters around the world, broadcasters, fellow composers, family and friends.”
Watch: Interview with Jane, produced by the CMC
Read the full announcement:
Contemporary Music Centre – Jane O’Leary is the first Irish composer to be elected an honorary member of the ISCM
Jane O'Leary 