SHORT BIOGRAPHY (See below for full biography)
Alison (b. 1971) is an award winning composer whose works have been performed and broadcast internationally. She studied composition with Alan Bullard (Colchester) and George Benjamin (RCM) and has recently 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 and Encore Publications.
Her music has been described as, 'Intensely moving', 'Beautiful yet pragmatic' and
'Saying what you have to say and then stopping'.
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 educator, pianist, organist, folk musician and Musical Director, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers. She is a qualified teacher having taught GCSE, A Level and BTEC Music and Performing Arts as well as giving private composition, piano, music theory and folk music lessons.
Recent works include the Derby Service written for Derby Cathedral, Salve Deus, Rex Judaeorum for Luminosa, Gold and Spices recorded as part of ORA Singers Christmas Gift Project, The Wind's Warning, premiered by the Gesualdo Six, Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, released on Blossom Street's album This Day (January 2019), The Ballad of the Harp Weaver, released on Juice Vocal Ensemble's Snow Queens CD (December 2018) and Non Omnis Moriar premiered 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 in March 2018. She is currently working on a micro-opera for Streetwise's Re:Sound project, 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 and Encore Publications.
Her music has been described as, 'Intensely moving', 'Beautiful yet pragmatic' and
'Saying what you have to say and then stopping'.
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 educator, pianist, organist, folk musician and Musical Director, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers. She is a qualified teacher having taught GCSE, A Level and BTEC Music and Performing Arts as well as giving private composition, piano, music theory and folk music lessons.
Recent works include the Derby Service written for Derby Cathedral, Salve Deus, Rex Judaeorum for Luminosa, Gold and Spices recorded as part of ORA Singers Christmas Gift Project, The Wind's Warning, premiered by the Gesualdo Six, Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, released on Blossom Street's album This Day (January 2019), The Ballad of the Harp Weaver, released on Juice Vocal Ensemble's Snow Queens CD (December 2018) and Non Omnis Moriar premiered 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 in March 2018. She is currently working on a micro-opera for Streetwise's Re:Sound project, 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
Alison (b. 1971) is an award winning composer whose works have been performed and broadcast internationally. She studied composition with Alan Bullard (Colchester) and George Benjamin (RCM) and has recently completed a PhD in Composition with Paul Mealor and Phillip Cooke at The University of Aberdeen. Her music has been performed internationally by the BBC Singers, London Concert Choir, The Gesualdo Six, Sound Riot and many others.
Her works are made available by Composers Edition, OUP,
Stainer and Bell, Multitude of Voyces, and Poppy Harp, Selah and Encore Publications.
Alison's music has been described as, "Intensely moving", "Beautiful yet pragmatic" and "Saying what you have to
say and then stopping".
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 and well qualified teacher, educator, pianist, organist, folk musician and Musical Director, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers.
Recent works include the Derby Service for Derby Cathedral, Gold and Spices recorded as part of ORA Singers Christmas Gift Project, I Shall Go Back Again for soprano and piano for York Late Music, Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, released on Blossom Street's album This Day (January 2019), The Ballad of the Harp Weaver, released on Juice Vocal Ensemble's Snow Queens CD (December 2018), The Wind's Warning (March 2019) premiered by The Gesualdo Six and Non Omnis Moriar premiered 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 in March 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'). Alison is also an experienced and well qualified teacher having taught GCSE, A Level and BTEC Music and Performing Arts as well as giving private composition, piano, music theory and folk music lessons.
Alison has recently completed her large scale piece 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).
She is currently working on a one act opera about twelfth century Welsh Warrior princess Gwenllian, due for performance at
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, and Poppy Harp, Selah and Encore Publications.
Alison's music has been described as, "Intensely moving", "Beautiful yet pragmatic" and "Saying what you have to
say and then stopping".
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 and well qualified teacher, educator, pianist, organist, folk musician and Musical Director, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers.
Recent works include the Derby Service for Derby Cathedral, Gold and Spices recorded as part of ORA Singers Christmas Gift Project, I Shall Go Back Again for soprano and piano for York Late Music, Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, released on Blossom Street's album This Day (January 2019), The Ballad of the Harp Weaver, released on Juice Vocal Ensemble's Snow Queens CD (December 2018), The Wind's Warning (March 2019) premiered by The Gesualdo Six and Non Omnis Moriar premiered 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 in March 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'). Alison is also an experienced and well qualified teacher having taught GCSE, A Level and BTEC Music and Performing Arts as well as giving private composition, piano, music theory and folk music lessons.
Alison has recently completed her large scale piece 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).
She is currently working on a one act opera about twelfth century Welsh Warrior princess Gwenllian, due for performance at
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.