I studied composition In Cardiff University (BMus) and London (MMus), and attended Dartington Summer School (Sir Peter Maxwell Davies class) and Aldeburgh School of Advanced Studies (Sir Harrison Birtwistle class). My attendance at the Dartington class was a pivotal experience for me, where I learned the the highest standards of the compositional craft, as well as the working method of the composer. I received performances by ensembles such as Lontano (ICA London), Sing Circle (Vale of Glamorgan Festival), and Music Projects London (Almeida Festival). A busy career as Director of Music at an international sixth form college, and director of a contemporary music group (Network), meant less time for composition, until becoming a 'Shortlist Composer' by SPNM 2007-2010, when my orchestral composition (Points of Decision) was performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (Manchester 2008; Sir James MacMillan). Further performances (and recording) of my Piano Trio by Trio Casals in USA (Philadelphia/New York 2015) and the Vale of Glamorgan Festival (Cardiff; 2019) and workshop performances by BBC National Orchestra of Wales. My orchestral CD (Journeys after...2017) was recorded in 2014 by Parma recordings US, and contains the first two pieces of a trilogy concerning the life and work of the poet John Clare. My Piano Trio was recorded by the same company for inclusion on a CD 'Moto Continuo'.
About the music
I like to think that my music is a contemporary continuation of main stream musical language that combines both modernistic aspects of harmony, rhythm, and structure, and more traditional tonal elements of these linguistic parameters. Structure is very important in my music making, because narrative is an essential aspect of composition, and these are crucial supports to the expressive qualities of my music. Perhaps this is where I depart from modernity, in that I feel that music is an expressive art of the highest calibre, and should try to concern itself with the human condition in some way. Hence you will see from my submissions that all of them become a metaphor for the background inspiration to the pieces. Thus, 'Shadows of Memory' is structured to reflect the faltering steps of a poet on a long walk home, and 'Marwnad' the nightmare of children killed in an avalanche. My music is, however, not programmatic, but crafted to be abstractly pertinent for the time scale of the piece.
Video
Links
This website uses cookies to ensure the best experience possible. More information...
