'Star Wars', 'Harry Potter' composer John Williams to receive AFI Lifetime achievement award

Five-time Oscar-winning composer John Williams is set to receive the American Film Institute's (AFI) Lifetime achievement award.

Williams, 83, who has composed for films like Star Wars, ET, Jaws and Schindler's List, will receive the award at a ceremony on 9 June 2016, reported BBC. It marks the first time the honour has been given to a composer in 44 years.

"John Williams has written the soundtrack to our lives. Note by note, through chord and chorus, his genius for marrying music with movies has elevated the art form to symphonic levels and inspired generations of audiences to be enriched by the magic of the movies," chairman of the AFI board of trustees, Howard Stringer said.

Williams is known for collaborating with Steve Spielberg, with whom he is reuniting on the upcoming film The BFG. He is also scoring Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opens in December.

The institute has typically honoured high-profile actors and directors with the award, including Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep and last year's honoree, Steve Martin.

The inaugural award was given to John Ford in 1973.