The Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie has been named a Laureate for the Polar Music Prize 2015.

The award is given to two musicians every year and this year Dame Evelyn is joined by American country singer Emmylou Harris.

She is the first percussionist ever to have won the prize, which has in the past been awarded to Bob Dylan, soprano Renée Fleming, baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Pink Floyd and Pierre Boulez.

Dame Evelyn, who celebrates her 50th birthday this year, has been profoundly deaf since the age of 12.

The Polar Music Prize was established in 1989 by the late Stig Anderson who, as ABBA’s publisher, lyricist and manager, played a key role in the group’s success. Without any restrictions of nationality, the prize is awarded mostly annually, to one or more persons, for ‘significant achievements in music’.