The International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA), professional association for online, print and radio journalists who specialize in writing about original film and television music, has announced the list of winners for excellence in musical scoring in 2015.

John Williams was awarded Score of the Year for his work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams. The movie is also named Best Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film. The film’s conclusive end credits suite, “The Jedi Steps and Finale”, won the Film Music Composition of the Year award.





This is what some of the IFMCA members had to say about Williams’s work on the movie.

IFMCA member James Southall said that “the Force remains strong in John Williams and long may it continue” and called the score “glorious,” while IFMCA member Christian Clemmensen called the score “a powerfully melodic and excitingly complex piece of grand artistry from an era of greatness that only John Williams in top form could deliver.”

You can see the complete list of winners here.

In the absence of a guild for composers, these awards are seen by many as a precursor to the Academy Awards. As you know, John Williams is nominated for Original Score. The winners of 88th Academy Awards will be known on February 28th, 2016.