As a day boy, in Pegg, I was heavily involved in musical activities during my time at the college, both internally ( taking part in Bill Scott’s musicals) and representing the College by playing piano almost annually at the Spa Grand Hall. I went straight to the Royal Northern College of Music to study composition, and before graduating had been awarded the Silver Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Since leaving RNCM I have worked full time as a composer. This includes music for film and television, and especially for the stage. My stage works are performed around the world. Commissions include an opera for the Royal Opera House, choral works for English National Opera, orchestral works for the BBC Philharmonic and others.
Awards include a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award for a children’s opera produced at Hackney Empire, ‘Confucius Says’, and an unprecedented two UK Theatre Best Musical Awards for two consecutive productions – ‘The Go-Between’, which starred Michael Crawford in London’s West End throughout 2016, and ‘Flowers For Mrs Harris’, which opened at the same time at Sheffield Crucible Theatre (with further productions planned for 2018). I am soon to compose the music for ‘The York Realist’ at London’s Donmar Warehouse, directed by Rob Hastie – another Scarborough College old boy! (though this is total coincidence!).