SHORT BIOGRAPHY (See below for full biography)
Writing music described as 'rather beautiful' (Suzy Klein, BBC Radio 3), 'beautiful, scholarly yet singable' (Cathedral Singers of Christ Church, Oxford) and 'stunning!' (Katie Derham, BBC Radio 3), Alison (b. 1971) is an award winning composer whose works have been performed and broadcast across the UK and internationally by ensembles including the BBC Singers, The Gesualdo Six, BBC Concert Orchestra and the Ora Singers.
She finds particular inspiration in historical sources and events, forgotten women, social issues, English Folk music and enjoys working collaboratively with both young people and adults. Alison is also an experienced conductor, educator, pianist, organist and folk musician, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers. Now based in the East of England she has recently been appointed as Musical Director of the Grimsby Bach Choir. She is a qualified teacher, enjoying roles as Composer/Musician in Residence as well as mentoring a select number of private composition students.
Recent works include 'We're Nor 'Avin' It!', a micro-opera written in collaboration with performers from Streetwise Opera and premiered with the BBC Concert Orchestra and members of The Sixteen at the Southbank Centre in March 2023, the Derby Service written for Derby Cathedral and Salve Deus, Rex Judaeorum for Luminosa. She is currently working on a collection of medieval carols and a set of twenty-four Preludes and Fugues for organ.
When not composing or educating Alison can be found walking her dogs on the beach, feeding the chickens or making
soup for her family from the vegetables in the garden.
If you would like to discuss commissioning a new work please contact Alison through the Contact page.
She finds particular inspiration in historical sources and events, forgotten women, social issues, English Folk music and enjoys working collaboratively with both young people and adults. Alison is also an experienced conductor, educator, pianist, organist and folk musician, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers. Now based in the East of England she has recently been appointed as Musical Director of the Grimsby Bach Choir. She is a qualified teacher, enjoying roles as Composer/Musician in Residence as well as mentoring a select number of private composition students.
Recent works include 'We're Nor 'Avin' It!', a micro-opera written in collaboration with performers from Streetwise Opera and premiered with the BBC Concert Orchestra and members of The Sixteen at the Southbank Centre in March 2023, the Derby Service written for Derby Cathedral and Salve Deus, Rex Judaeorum for Luminosa. She is currently working on a collection of medieval carols and a set of twenty-four Preludes and Fugues for organ.
When not composing or educating Alison can be found walking her dogs on the beach, feeding the chickens or making
soup for her family from the vegetables in the garden.
If you would like to discuss commissioning a new work please contact Alison through the Contact page.
FULL BIOGRAPHY
Writing music described as 'rather beautiful' (Suzy Klein, BBC Radio 3), 'beautiful, scholarly yet singable' (Cathedral Singers of Christ Church, Oxford) and 'stunning!' (Katie Derham, BBC Radio 3), Alison (b. 1971) is an award winning composer whose works have been performed and broadcast across the UK and internationally by ensembles including the BBC Singers, The Gesualdo Six, BBC Concert Orchestra and the Ora Singers. She studied composition with Alan Bullard (Colchester) and George Benjamin (RCM) and completed a PhD in Composition with Paul Mealor and Phillip Cooke at The University of Aberdeen.
Her works are made available by Composers Edition, OUP,
Stainer and Bell, Multitude of Voyces, Poppy Harp, Selah, Encore Publications and Tim Knight Music.
She finds particular inspiration in historical sources and events, forgotten women, social issues, English Folk music and enjoys working collaboratively with both young people and adults. Alison is also an experienced conductor, educator, pianist, organist and folk musician, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers. Since November 2022 she has been Musical Director of the Grimsby Bach Choir. She is a qualified teacher, enjoying roles as Composer/Musician in Residence as well as mentoring a select number of private composition students.
Recent works include 'We're Nor 'Avin' It!', a micro-opera written in collaboration with performers from Streetwise Opera and premiered with the BBC Concert Orchestra and members of The Sixteen at the Southbank Centre in March 2023, the Derby Service for Derby Cathedral, Salve Deus, Rex Judaeorum for choir, chamber choir, soprano solo and organ setting a female perspective on the Passion of Christ as told by Pilate's wife, based on the poem by Aemilia Lanyer (1611), Gold and Spices recorded as part of ORA Singers Christmas Gift Project, and I Shall Go Back Again for soprano and piano for York Late Music.
The Wind's Warning (March 2019) was premiered by The Gesualdo Six at Cadogan Hall, London and Non Omnis Moriar recorded and broadcast as part of a concert reflecting on refugeeism by the BBC Singers (September 2018). Her work for Hampshire County Youth Choir, Pax Vobis was performed as part of the Remembrance service at Winchester Cathedral (June 2018) and A Light Not Yet Ready To Go Out for the London Concert Choir, raising awareness of and money for Breast Cancer Now, premiered to a sold out audience at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square (March 2018).
Recordings include Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, released on Blossom Street's album This Day (January 2019) and The Ballad of the Harp Weaver, released on Juice Vocal Ensemble's Snow Queens CD (December 2018).
Instrumental works include Go and Catch a Falling Star premiered by Sound Riot, Nashville (February 2018) and Love in Idleness for solo harp, winner of the Future Blend Project. Her two songs for Mezzo and Piano were commissioned and performed as part of the Women of the World Equator Festival at Kings Place in October 2017 and Magnificat was premiered by The Cantus Ensemble, London, July 2017. Dawn. Brussels. October 12th 1915, a choral piece about Edith Cavell, was premiered by Selwyn College Choir with Onyx Brass in London in March 2017 as part of JAM's 'Music of Our Time'.
Other works include Rosarium, a cycle of carols premiered by Dulciana in Dublin (December 2017), When Home Won't Let You Stay for Left Hand piano, performed by Nicholas McCarthy at The Royal Albert Hall in March 2017. Vespers Inspired by the Medieval Hispanic Office was commissioned by the Old Hispanic Office project and premiered by Bristol Cathedral choir in May 2017 and I Sing of a Maiden was awarded the Nick Edwards prize in December 2016, Paschalia for organ was published as part of a feature on Alison's music in Choir and Organ Magazine, Spring 2017 and JOURNEYS, a piece reflecting the ongoing Refugee Crisis written in collaboration with Chiltern Youth Chamber Orchestra was commissioned by Making Music's "Adopt a Composer" scheme 2015/16 (in association with PRS, SAM, BBC Radio 3) and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in January 2017.
Recent educational projects include Pieced - Conflict, Creativity, Composition and Heard Differently, working with schools to create new compositions responding to war art exhibits at Compton Verney Gallery in Warwickshire and re-imagining Dickens characters, in partnership with Hampshire Music Hub and Professor Holly Furneaux (advisor on BBC's 'Dickensian').
She is currently working on a collection of medieval carols and a set of twenty-four Preludes and Fugues for organ.
When not composing or educating Alison can be found walking her dogs on the beach, feeding the chickens or
making soup for her family from the vegetables in the garden.
If you would like to discuss commissioning a new work please contact Alison through the Contact page.
Her works are made available by Composers Edition, OUP,
Stainer and Bell, Multitude of Voyces, Poppy Harp, Selah, Encore Publications and Tim Knight Music.
She finds particular inspiration in historical sources and events, forgotten women, social issues, English Folk music and enjoys working collaboratively with both young people and adults. Alison is also an experienced conductor, educator, pianist, organist and folk musician, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers. Since November 2022 she has been Musical Director of the Grimsby Bach Choir. She is a qualified teacher, enjoying roles as Composer/Musician in Residence as well as mentoring a select number of private composition students.
Recent works include 'We're Nor 'Avin' It!', a micro-opera written in collaboration with performers from Streetwise Opera and premiered with the BBC Concert Orchestra and members of The Sixteen at the Southbank Centre in March 2023, the Derby Service for Derby Cathedral, Salve Deus, Rex Judaeorum for choir, chamber choir, soprano solo and organ setting a female perspective on the Passion of Christ as told by Pilate's wife, based on the poem by Aemilia Lanyer (1611), Gold and Spices recorded as part of ORA Singers Christmas Gift Project, and I Shall Go Back Again for soprano and piano for York Late Music.
The Wind's Warning (March 2019) was premiered by The Gesualdo Six at Cadogan Hall, London and Non Omnis Moriar recorded and broadcast as part of a concert reflecting on refugeeism by the BBC Singers (September 2018). Her work for Hampshire County Youth Choir, Pax Vobis was performed as part of the Remembrance service at Winchester Cathedral (June 2018) and A Light Not Yet Ready To Go Out for the London Concert Choir, raising awareness of and money for Breast Cancer Now, premiered to a sold out audience at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square (March 2018).
Recordings include Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, released on Blossom Street's album This Day (January 2019) and The Ballad of the Harp Weaver, released on Juice Vocal Ensemble's Snow Queens CD (December 2018).
Instrumental works include Go and Catch a Falling Star premiered by Sound Riot, Nashville (February 2018) and Love in Idleness for solo harp, winner of the Future Blend Project. Her two songs for Mezzo and Piano were commissioned and performed as part of the Women of the World Equator Festival at Kings Place in October 2017 and Magnificat was premiered by The Cantus Ensemble, London, July 2017. Dawn. Brussels. October 12th 1915, a choral piece about Edith Cavell, was premiered by Selwyn College Choir with Onyx Brass in London in March 2017 as part of JAM's 'Music of Our Time'.
Other works include Rosarium, a cycle of carols premiered by Dulciana in Dublin (December 2017), When Home Won't Let You Stay for Left Hand piano, performed by Nicholas McCarthy at The Royal Albert Hall in March 2017. Vespers Inspired by the Medieval Hispanic Office was commissioned by the Old Hispanic Office project and premiered by Bristol Cathedral choir in May 2017 and I Sing of a Maiden was awarded the Nick Edwards prize in December 2016, Paschalia for organ was published as part of a feature on Alison's music in Choir and Organ Magazine, Spring 2017 and JOURNEYS, a piece reflecting the ongoing Refugee Crisis written in collaboration with Chiltern Youth Chamber Orchestra was commissioned by Making Music's "Adopt a Composer" scheme 2015/16 (in association with PRS, SAM, BBC Radio 3) and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in January 2017.
Recent educational projects include Pieced - Conflict, Creativity, Composition and Heard Differently, working with schools to create new compositions responding to war art exhibits at Compton Verney Gallery in Warwickshire and re-imagining Dickens characters, in partnership with Hampshire Music Hub and Professor Holly Furneaux (advisor on BBC's 'Dickensian').
She is currently working on a collection of medieval carols and a set of twenty-four Preludes and Fugues for organ.
When not composing or educating Alison can be found walking her dogs on the beach, feeding the chickens or
making soup for her family from the vegetables in the garden.
If you would like to discuss commissioning a new work please contact Alison through the Contact page.