Rounding Up 2024
Looking back on 2024, I feel incredibly privileged to have had such a musically rich year.
I was thrilled to have my ‘Contemplations #1 & #3’ for piano and vocalising pianist premiered in Berlin by Fidan Aghayeva-Edler. This premiere was part of Fidan’s 24 hour piano marathon, celebrating the music of female composers past and present. The event included live drawing inspired by the music, poetry, movement, and meditations.
In October, Rose McLachlan gave a beautiful and atmospheric performance of 22 Nocturnes for Chopin in its entirety. The performance took place at Kings Place, London, as part of London Piano Festival. I was really pleased to be able to attend the concert. Hearing my piece, alongside the other 21 Nocturnes, played with such sensitivity was an unforgettable experience.
Later that month I did something a little different. I rejoined my friend and pianist Késia Decoté to chat with the host of Skitts and Quibbles, an online TV show about arts and wellbeing. It was really fulfilling for Késia and I to share our creative struggles and inspirations, and to talk about the reality of trying to forge a path in the classical music world. Késia also played a selection of my piano miniatures from “Isolation’. The show is produced by Wellbeing Media Studio and is set to air on e360tv early in 2025.
My final premiere was in November. This was the one which the whole year had been driving towards: ‘In Retrospect’, the culmination of my year working with the Harpenden Barbershop Harmony Club (HBHC) as part of Making Music’s program Adopt A Music Creator. The performance took place in St John’s Church, Harpenden, where the Chorus were joined by the Abbey Gateway Orchestra, a St Albans based leisure-time chamber orchestra. The HBHC sang a mix of polecats, pop songs, and show songs, and of course, ‘In Retrospect’ the collection of three songs which we developed together. The singing was punctuated by the orchestra, who played an assortment of well known classical pieces, film themes, and ‘Falling Leaves’, a short piece which I wrote for them in 2018. The finale of the event saw the orchestra and the HBHC joining forces for a Sound Of Music sing-a-long with audience participation. A really good time was had by all! All proceeds from the concert went to MacMillan Cancer Support, raising £2000!
Having spent the best part of the year working with the HBHC, I can honestly say that I felt a little emotional at the end of the concert. I really enjoyed my time with them. Special thanks to Making Music for facilitating this journey, to Jenni Pinnock for being a wonderful mentor, and to conductor David Anstice-Pim. Adopt A Music Creator is funded by the PRS Foundation and the Philip and Dorothy Green Trust, as well as Creative Scotland.
I am truly grateful for the support of all the musicians who have bought my music to life this year. I am looking forward to what musical adventures 2025 has in store!