The sentence, I believe, translates as ''He is the youngest musician to have received this distinction'', therefore ''à avoir'' = ''to have''.

here « avoir reçu » is past infinitif that in french is named « l’infinitif passé» il se forme avec auxiliaire avoir ou être + participe passé. but about the preposition à, it s the preposition of auxiliary “être”. bonne chance!

Sabrina, because "Il est le plus jeune musicien avoir reçu cette distinction" does not work because French verbs don't have the "to" in front of them (therefore that would translate as "He is the youngest musician receive this distinction''). That "à" in front of "avoir" is that "to". "He is the youngest musician to receive this distinction''

Good question -and answer @bluebottle. But why "à" avoir? Why not just use it in its infinitive form "avoir" (to have)?