I was born in London and started to play guitar, compose and explore synthesisers at an early age.
I went on to study music as an undergraduate at the University of Southampton. I hold a PhD in Music Composition from the University of Edinburgh; I was recently awarded a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). I have worked in the Higher Education sector for more than 30 years.
I am passionate about accessibility to and public engagement with arts and culture.
I have had a professional composition career for more than 30 years - from solo pieces through to orchestral and choral works, as well as realising a number of live-electronic/interactive soundscape pieces. I have had the privilege of having performances in Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine, Uruguay and the USA. Working with many notable musicians, institutions and festivals along the way including: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Ensemble 10/10; BBC Philharmonic Orchestra; Clark Rundell; Michael Seal; Roberto Fabbriciani; Rohan de Saram; Die Neuevocalsolisten; Scottish Opera; Tempo Reale; Das Experimentalstudio der Heinrich Strobel Stiftung.
I have appeared on radio and television broadcasts (nationally and internationally) on a number of occasions to discuss music.
As a writer my scholarly work on Luigi Nono, Edgard Varèse and Contemporary Electronic Music have been well-received.
Teaching Specialisms
Music Composition and Arranging
Digital Music
Contemporary Music History & Aesthetics
Music Analysis
I welcome proposals for PhD study in areas pertaining to Arts and Wellbeing; Contemporary Music Practice
Recent Works
Il Guido (2024) a work for flute and live electronics, composed for the international flute virtuoso Roberto Fabbriciani to commemorate the centenary of the birth of the Italian avant-garde composer Luigi Nono. This piece is the title work for a forthcoming portrait release of all of my solo flute works featuring Fabbriciani on the Stradivarius label.
Remember Me (2024) a work for soprano and orchestral wind and brass that sets 5 poems on the subject of loss by e.e. cummings. Compositionally it is 'haunted' by music of the big band era. It was commissioned by the Hope Metropolitan Orchestra and its premiere featured the fabulous gospel voice of Rachel McFarlane.
You Are Not Alone (2023&2024) an outreach compositional project funded by Culture Liverpool as part of the City of Liverpool's Eurovision festival. This project saw me work with a team of creative professionals alongside pupils from two special education schools from Merseyside. The eventual song that was co-composed was performed on the main stage at the pier head in front of an audience of some 4000 people. This song project led on to a visual art project with the same schools in partnership with the ADHD Foundation and the Being Human Festival.
Songs from my Islands (2023) a work for chamber choir that places a contemporary prism upon 4 folk songs from the nations of the British Isles. Commissioned for the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Liverpool at the start of 2023.
A Most Wanted Man (2022) a mixed-media musical theatre work based on the novel by John Le Carré. The work features many innovations in terms of digital music and visual projections creating a virtual spectacle for the audience. It was funded by the Arts Council of England.
Veiled Bamboo ... Still Water ... Boundless (2021) a work for quarter-tone alto flute, contrabass clarinet and live electronics. Composed for the flautist Carla Rees and Clarinetist Sarah Watts, known collectively as rarescale. It's premiere performance took place in the Capstone Theatre in June 2021 and was recently recorded for commercial release in early 2022.
Other Recent Publications
Il Guido (2024) a portrait release of my flute music featuring the soloist Roberto Fabbriciani, to be released in partnership with Tempo Reale on the Stradivarius label.
Music and Hauntology (2024) the editing of a volume of Contemporary Music Review on the theme of Hauntology in Music
Mist & Branches Against A White Sky - performed by Roberto Fabbriciani on Tactus CD label 2020