Alison (b. 1971) is an award winning composer who studied composition with Alan Bullard (Colchester) and George Benjamin (RCM). Whilst at college she had SPNM supported performances by the London Sinfonietta (Purcell Rooms) and Gemini (Swinburne Hall). She is currently studying for a PhD in Composition. Her works are made available by Composers Edition.
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, social issues and enjoys working collaboratively with both young people and adults. She is also an experienced pianist and Musical Director, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers.
Recent works include "The Gift to Sing", winner of the Claremont Chorale Composition Competiton, due for premiere May 2018 in America, "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 full house at Holy Trinity Sloane Square in March 2018, "Go and Catch a Falling Star" premiered by Sound Riot in 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 and "When Home Won't Let You Stay" for Left Hand piano was 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.
Other works include "I Sing of a Maiden", awarded the Nick Edwards prize in December 2016, "Paschalia", 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 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. "Come Away Death" was premiered by Dulciana Vocal Ensemble in Dublin in October 2016 and "Thou Hast Made Me Endless", a choral setting of Rabindranath Tagore's poem of the same name was premiered by The London Concord Singers in December 2016 as part of their 50th anniversary concert.
"Pied Piper", a commission for the award winning Ferio Saxophone Quartet toured in performance and workshop in
The Channel Islands in November 2015, "The Ballad of The Harp Weaver" was premiered by Juice Vocal Ensemble (December 2015), a new Christmas Carol, "Those Things Three" was awarded the Ray Bardsley prize (December 2015) and “War Songs" in collaboration with poet Chloe Stopa-Hunt was premiered at the Brandenburg Choral Festival, London 2015, (cond. Nicholas Cleobury).
Other performances include "Rookwood Canticle" with poet Matt Haw broadcast on BBC Radio 3 (Britten in Oxford 2013, JAM "Writing for Voices project), "Prelude and Fugue No. 1" (Weston Jennings - Festival Hall Organ Scholar Colchester 2015), "Antiphon for St. Michael” (Bournemouth Symphony Chorus 2013), “In Commendation of Music” (Chantry Quire Chichester 2011) and “The Flame Still Burns” , Olympic Anthem for massed secondary school choirs and wind orchestra, (The Anvil, Basingstoke July 2012).
Recent 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 currently working on a piece for upper voices inspired by the Old Hispanic Chants and a new piece for Hampshire County Youth Choir reflecting on the centenary of World War I for performance at Winchester Cathedral in June 2018.
If you would like to discuss commissioning a new work please contact Alison through the Contact page.
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, social issues and enjoys working collaboratively with both young people and adults. She is also an experienced pianist and Musical Director, enjoys composing music for theatre and is a Trustee of the Martin Read Foundation, supporting young composers.
Recent works include "The Gift to Sing", winner of the Claremont Chorale Composition Competiton, due for premiere May 2018 in America, "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 full house at Holy Trinity Sloane Square in March 2018, "Go and Catch a Falling Star" premiered by Sound Riot in 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 and "When Home Won't Let You Stay" for Left Hand piano was 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.
Other works include "I Sing of a Maiden", awarded the Nick Edwards prize in December 2016, "Paschalia", 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 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. "Come Away Death" was premiered by Dulciana Vocal Ensemble in Dublin in October 2016 and "Thou Hast Made Me Endless", a choral setting of Rabindranath Tagore's poem of the same name was premiered by The London Concord Singers in December 2016 as part of their 50th anniversary concert.
"Pied Piper", a commission for the award winning Ferio Saxophone Quartet toured in performance and workshop in
The Channel Islands in November 2015, "The Ballad of The Harp Weaver" was premiered by Juice Vocal Ensemble (December 2015), a new Christmas Carol, "Those Things Three" was awarded the Ray Bardsley prize (December 2015) and “War Songs" in collaboration with poet Chloe Stopa-Hunt was premiered at the Brandenburg Choral Festival, London 2015, (cond. Nicholas Cleobury).
Other performances include "Rookwood Canticle" with poet Matt Haw broadcast on BBC Radio 3 (Britten in Oxford 2013, JAM "Writing for Voices project), "Prelude and Fugue No. 1" (Weston Jennings - Festival Hall Organ Scholar Colchester 2015), "Antiphon for St. Michael” (Bournemouth Symphony Chorus 2013), “In Commendation of Music” (Chantry Quire Chichester 2011) and “The Flame Still Burns” , Olympic Anthem for massed secondary school choirs and wind orchestra, (The Anvil, Basingstoke July 2012).
Recent 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 currently working on a piece for upper voices inspired by the Old Hispanic Chants and a new piece for Hampshire County Youth Choir reflecting on the centenary of World War I for performance at Winchester Cathedral in June 2018.
If you would like to discuss commissioning a new work please contact Alison through the Contact page.