| Comune di Napoli Medal - awarded by the Mayor of Naples, Italy |
2012 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Music - Cambridge University, UK |
2010 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Music - Napier University, Edinburgh, UK |
2009 |
| Drummies Readers Poll Awards - Orchestral Percussionist |
2009 |
| Honorary Doctor of the University - Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK |
2008 |
| Inducted into the PAS (Percussive Arts Society) Hall of Fame |
2008 |
| Dame Commander of the British Empire |
2007 |
| Honorary Doctor of the University - Open University, UK |
2006 |
| Honorary Doctor of Music - Binghamton University, NY State, USA |
2006 |
| Sabian Lifetime Achievement Award |
2006 |
| Incorporated Society of Musicians 2006 Distinguished Musician Award, UK |
2006 |
| LOLA 2005 - German Film Prize for best Soundtrack and nominaton for best Documentary - 'Touch the Sound' |
2005 |
| Drummies Readers Poll Awards - Orchestral Percussionist |
2005 |
| Tartan Clef Award - Scotland with Style Classical Award, UK |
2005 |
| Honorary Doctor of Music - Williams College, MA, USA |
2005 |
| Grammy Nominaton for - Michael Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (with Orchestra) for Daugherty's UFO |
2005 |
| "Golden Pidgeon" - Main prize of the International Documentary and Animation Film Festival in Leipzig for 'Touch the Sound' |
2004 |
| "Critic's Prize" - Locarno International Film Festival for 'Touch the Sound' |
2004 |
| Doctor Honoris Causa - Edinburgh University, UK |
2004 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best live percussionist |
2004 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best studio percussionist |
2004 |
| Honorary Doctor in Music - University of Dublin, Ireland |
2004 |
| BAFTA - Scotland's award for best Documentary film for 'Touch the Sound' |
2004 |
| Musical America - Instrumentalist of the Year |
2003 |
| Mark Hatfield Leadership Award for Outstanding Services to Deaf Children presented by the Tucker Maxon School, USA |
2003 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best live percussionist |
2003 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best studio percussionist |
2003 |
| Classic FM Red Award - For Outstanding contribution to Classical Music |
2002 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best live percussionist |
2002 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best studio percussionist |
2002 |
| Honorary Doctor of the University - Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, UK |
2002 |
| Walpole Medal of Excellence |
2002 |
| Modern Drummer Magazine Readers Poll - Classical/Mallet Percussionist |
2002 |
| Grammy Award for Bela Fleck's Album 'Perpetual Motion' (Best Classical Crossover Album) |
2002 |
| Grammy Nomination for Percussion Concerto by Joseph Schwantner |
2001 |
| Honorary Fellowship from the Guild of Musicians and Singers, UK |
2001 |
| Fellow of the Royal Northern College of Music, UK |
2000 |
| Honorary Doctor of Music - University of Southampton, UK |
2000 |
| Honorary Doctor of Music - Exeter University, UK |
2000 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best live percussionist |
2000 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best studio percussionist |
2000 |
| Honorary Fellowship of North and Midlands School of Music, UK |
1999 |
| The Lunn Poly Radar People of the Year Award, UK |
1999 |
| Honorary Doctor of Letters, Salford University, UK |
1999 |
| DRUM Magazine, Percussionist of the Year |
1998 |
| Drummie Readers Poll Award |
1998 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Music, Queens University, Belfast, UK |
1998 |
| Honorary Doctor of the University, Essex University, UK |
1998 |
| Rhythm Magazine - Best studio percussionist |
1998 |
| Honorary Doctor of the University, Durham University, UK |
1998 |
| Honorary Doctor of University - Roehampton University, Surrey, UK |
1997 |
| Outstanding Individual Award, Alexander Graham Bell Association, USA |
1997 |
| The Reynolds Society 1996 Achievement Award |
1996 |
| Paul Harris Fellow, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, UK |
1996 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Laws - Dundee University, UK |
1996 |
| Honorary Fellowship - Royal Welsh college of Music and Drama, UK |
1995 |
| Honorary Doctor of Letters - Loughborough University, UK |
1995 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Music - Bristol University, UK |
1995 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Music - Portsmouth University, UK |
1995 |
| Cosmopolitan Achievement Award Winner, UK |
1994 |
| International Classical Music Awards Personality of the Year |
1993 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Letters - Warwick University, UK |
1993 |
| Young Deaf Achievers Special Award |
1993 |
| OBE (Officer of the British Empire) |
1993 |
| Classic CD Award for Veni, Veni, Emmanuel recording |
1993 |
| The Gulliver Award for the Performing Arts in Scotland, UK |
1993 |
| Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, UK |
1992 |
| Modern Drummer Magazine Readers Poll - Classical Percussionist |
1991 |
| Royal Philharmonic Society's Charles Heidsieck Soloist of the Year Award |
1991 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Music - Aberdeen University, UK |
1991 |
| Fellow of the Royal College of Music, UK |
1991 |
| Scot's Woman of the Decade, UK |
1990 |
| Junior Chamber International - Personal Improvement & Accomplishment, UK |
1989 |
| Grammy Award - Bartok's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion |
1988 |
| All Music Young Professional Musician of the Year, UK |
1988 |
| Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, UK |
1987 |
| Leonardo Da Vinci Prize |
1987 |
| Queens Commendation Prize for all-round excellence |
1985 |
| Munster Trust Scholarship |
1985 |
| Graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, UK |
1985 |
| James Blades Prize for Timpani & Percussion |
1984 |
| Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music, UK |
1984 |
| Gold Medal in the Shell/LSO Music Scholarship |
1984 |
| Hugh Fitz Prize for Percussion |
1983 |
| Hilda Deane Anderson Prize for Orchestral Playing |
1983 |
| Scot of the Year, UK |
1982 |