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As Composer

Portfolio

Michael graduated with an MMus in composition from the University of Edinburgh in 2015. His composition teachers have included Nigel Osbourne, Peter Nelson, and Stuart MacRae. Michael has since gone on to produce a steady output of original work for individuals, productions, and ensembles, along with arrangement and orchestration projects. He is open to commission work and collaborations with other creatives.

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Michael is fluent in using Avid Sibelius to create neatly typeset scores and legible parts to a high standard.

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In 2023 he was invited to be Composer in Residence for the October Recorder Festival (ORF) at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, producing several new works for small consorts and a massed work, The Musical ORFering, played by 107 recorder players!

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A growing catalogue of scores is available for purchase from Score Exchange. Do get in contact as there may be something in the back catalogue to suit your requirements.

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Archived recordings from Michael's portfolio are also available from Soundcloud.

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Two pencils and a conductor's baton lie on a sheet of music manuscript.

Creative collaborations

He enjoys collaborating with other creatives with previous collaborations including:

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2022: The Lewis Chess Pieces - composer for community music project in Helensburgh, Scotland expanding on melodies by Julian Ward and orchestrated by Lorna McLaren. Performed by Lomond and Clyde Community Orchestra. An electronic recording can be found here.

 

2022: The Kelpie Suite (work for orchestra and storyteller; collaborating with David Hughes, Scottish storyteller)

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2017: Incidental music for Edinburgh People's Theatre production of The Diary of Anne Frank

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2009 - 2016: Conductor of The Composers' Orchestra, contemporary music ensemble at Edinburgh University, giving many new works their first performance.

A score by Mozart lies open on a tray table on a plane.

Commission Work

Michael is always eager to hear proposals for new commission work.

Please do get in contact if you would like to discuss a composition proposal. Recent commission work has included:

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2024: Guildford SRP 50th Anniversary Commission

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2023: Composer in Residence, October Recorder Festival 2023

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2022: Magna Carta Orchestra Commission: Of Wet and Wilderness

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2021: Edinburgh SRP Covid Commission: The Forth Suite

Edinburgh Recorder Ensemble Covid Commission: Cityscape

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2018: Bristol SRP 70th Anniversary Commission: Bristolian Rapsody

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2016: Scottish Recorder Festival Commission: A Parisian Sketchbook

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A pen and a pencil lie on an open book of music manuscript lying on a desk.
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