LAZARUS REQUIEM IN DURHAM CATHEDRAL

I am so excited that this Saturday sees the performance of my Lazarus Requiem in Durham Cathedral.

Not only will it great to hear my biggest choral and orchestral work performed again but, as an alumnus of Durham University, it will be a very moving occasion for me personally.  To think that all those years ago I was studying there as a Music student, and now to have my work performed by in the Cathedral is so special.  The Durham University Choral Society will be performing alongside the Durham University Orchestral Society and Chamber Choir and a host of amazing soloists all of whom are Durham alumni.

I'll also be giving a pre-concert talk about the work, and I look forward to seeing some of you there.

Click here for tickets.

Pre-concert talk in the Cathedral at 7:00pm.  Concert starts at 7:30pm.

A KIING'S RANSOM CHILDREN'S OPERA - APPEAL LAUNCH

Today sees the launch of a combined campaign between me and Into Opera to appeal for your help in raising funds to aid the Professional World Premiere of my children's opera A King's Ransom.

My brother, Andrew, and I wrote the opera in 1994 and was brilliantly received at the time, but I have done nothing with it since!  This all changed through meeting Genevieve Raghu and Benjamin Hamilton of Into Opera who are passionate about encouraging children to discover the amazing world of opera.  The opera will form a national educational project to create a unique opportunity for children of different backgrounds to unite on stage, through opera.

At a time when budgets for teaching the arts in schools is severely under threat we need your help to reverse the tide and prove how important it is for all young people irrespective of background to be exposed to high quality cultural education.

This video shows what we're all about, and you can click here to go straight to the donations page where you can donate your amount and receive an exciting pledge from us in return.

CLASSIC FM FULL WORKS CONCERT

The Highgrove Suite rounds off tonight's Classic FM Full Works concert with Jane Jones.

http://www.classicfm.com/radio/shows/full-works-concert/9-february-2015/

Buy signed copies of the Highgrove Suite CD here or download from iTunes.

PRAYER TO A GUARDIAN ANGEL - VOCES8 - LUX

It's great to see my piece Prayer to a Guardian Angel featuring on the new album 'Lux' by the superb ensemble Voces8.

They have produced a beautiful rendition of this piece, with words from my brother Andrew, which originally featured on my Number One album Angel.  

Good luck with the album Voces8!

Available on iTunes and Amazon now.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

REMEMBER WWI

I'm really pleased to announce that I have been made the Official Composer for the REMEMBER WWI organisation!

REMEMBER WWI aims to inspire and encourage individuals, families, schools, communities and organisations to reflect on the sacrifice and service given during WW1 and the impact it had across society, and to get involved in volunteering and community projects around issues important to their communities.

Yesterday I attended the REMEMBER WWI launch, and you'll have to watch this space to see what my contribution is going to be!  But what I can say at the moment is that huge plans are already in progress and the photo shows me putting my name on the pledge board and making my commitment.

THE DANE TREE

I'm feeling chuffed today having just finished my new work for Daventry Choral Society for their 25th Anniversary Concert.  It's the setting of a wonderful poem by Alfred Noyes called The Dane Tree.

Alfred Noyes wrote the poem especially to celebrate the opening in 1925 of, what was at the time, the largest broadcasting station in the world, and the first long-wave station by the BBC.  As one author wrote "The poem stresses the strange and compelling contrast between ancient and modern on Dane Tree Hill, a site of historic importance, one of the oldest military encampments, and a place mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry VI."

The poem is very English and full of brooding, dark imagery which I hope I've conveyed by adding baritone solo to the choir and strings!  Really looking forward to the premiere next April!

For more information about the premiere concert on 25th April 2015 click here.