Page 106 - FINAL_Guildhall Media Highlights 2019-2020 Coverage Book

18 February 2020

Who or what inspired you to take up composing, and pursue a career in
music?
As a child, I devoured stories of the lives of composers from a book I found at
a local library. Since most of the composers I read about were also
performers, and I was learning piano and French horn, it seemed clear to me
that one day I would be a composer too!
Who or what were the most significant influences on your musical life
and career as a composer?
I would have to say Judith Weir has had a profoundly positive influence on my
musical life. I first met her as a teenager when she was adjudicating a
composition competition at Aberdeen University where I was awarded first
prize. Along with her words of wisdom, I also heard her music for the first time,
and instantly fell in love with its bright, clear sound world. Later I would work
on Judith’s operas as a répétiteur and conductor, and I was lucky enough to
have private mentoring from Judith when I was studying piano
accompaniment and répétiteur studies at Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
I have also been very fortunate to receive mentoring from some wonderful
composers: Errollyn Wallen, Nicola LeFanu and David Sawer. This has meant