The Tallis Scholars were founded in 1973 by their director, Peter Phillips. Through their recordings and concert performances, they have established themselves as the leading exponents of Renaissance sacred music throughout the world. The Tallis Scholars perform in both sacred and secular venues, usually giving around 70 concerts each year across the globe. In 2013, the group celebrated their 40th anniversary with a World Tour performing 99 events in 80 venues in 16 countries and travelling sufficient air-miles to circumnavigate the globe four times. They kicked off the year with a spectacular concert in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, including a performance of Thomas Tallis’ 40-part motet “Spem in alium” and the world premieres of works written specially for them by Gabriel Jackson and Eric Whitacre. The Tallis Scholars' career highlights have included a tour of China in 1999, including two concerts in Beijing; and the privilege of performing in the Sistine Chapel in April 1994 to mark the final stage of the complete restoration of the Michelangelo frescoes, broadcast on Italian and Japanese television. The ensemble have commissioned many contemporary composers during their history: in 1998 they celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a special concert in London's National Gallery, premiering a Sir John Tavener work written for the group and narrated by Sting. The Tallis Scholars are broadcast regularly on radio (including performances from the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013) and have also been featured on the acclaimed ITV program “The Southbank Show.” Recordings by The Tallis Scholars have attracted many awards. In 1987, their recording of Josquin's “Missa La sol fa re mi” and “Missa Pange lingua” received Gramophone magazine’s Record of the Year award, the first recording of early music ever to win this award. In 1989, the French magazine Diapason gave two of its Diapason d'Or de l'Année awards for the recordings of a mass and motets by Lassus and for Josquin's two masses based on the chanson “L'Homme armé.” Their recording of Palestrina's “Missa Assumpta est Maria” and “Missa Sicut lilium” was awarded Gramophone's Early Music Award in 1991; they received the 1994 Early Music Award for their recording of music by Cipriano de Rore; and the same distinction again in 2005 for their disc of music by John Browne. The Tallis Scholars were nominated for a Grammy Award in 2001, 2009 and 2010. In November 2012, their recording of Josquin's “Missa De beata virgine” and “Missa Ave maris stella” received a Diapason d’Or de l’Année and in their 40th anniversary year they were welcomed into the Gramophone Hall of Fame by public vote.