James MacMillan James MacMillan maintains a close relationship with Westminster Cathedral and is a devout Catholic and dedicated church musician who directs the church choir in Glasgow. He is a strong advocate for raising the musical quality of Catholic services and sees the Westminster Cathedral Choir as a model for the entire Church. Although many parishes have limited resources, he has composed works of varying difficulty, always remaining true to his artistic convictions. His musical versatility is reflected in numerous recent recordings.
The work Tu es Petrus was composed for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Westminster Cathedral in 2010. The text of this piece was ideally suited to the solemn occasion. MacMillan expressed great pride in it and described his enthusiasm for combining different tonal colors in the work. The composition also recalls the expressive power of his earlier, seminal works and leaves a lasting impression.