I actually met Howard Shore!!! I was so proud.
Once a year, there's a festival here in Vienna (called 'Hollywood in Vienna') to honour film music in general. Last September, half of this festival was held in the name of Howard Shore, to honour him with the 'Max Steiner Award' for his wonderful music. Several pieces of film music were played, partly written by him. And in the end, he himself conducted the orchestra, together with a little boy singing 'But in dreams'. I was in heaven.
Rick Porras, one of the LotR producers, was there as well, and held a little speech for Shore.
I was literally beaming and bouncing on my chair to each of those music peaces. It was so beautiful to hear them life. The best event of my life!