Renowned English conductor Sir Colin Davis has died at the age of 85.

According to the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), Davis died on Sunday evening following a short illness. From the LSO statement:

He will be remembered with huge affection and admiration by the LSO and our thoughts are with his family at this time.

Though Davis first conducted the LSO in 1959, it wasn’t until 1995 that he became the principal conductor for the orchestra. He went on to become the longest-serving principal conductor in the LSO’s history, retiring from the position in 2006. The following year, Davis became President of the LSO – the first since Leonard Bernstein’s death in 1990.

During his years of work with the LSO, Davis received many awards, including the 2006 Grammy award for best opera for the LSO live recording of Falstaff. Davis was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1965 and was knighted in 1980.

(Image courtesy the London Symphony Orchestra)