Lewis Murphy
Glyndebourne has announced that the Scottish composer Lewis Murphy will take up the position of Young Composer in Residence in January 2015. Lewis studies with Mark Anthony Turnage at the Royal College of Music, and he was chosen from a strong field of over 50 applicants. Although only 22, he already has an opera and several other works to his name; Now, written in collaboration with Laura Attridge, premiered in London in May 2014 as part of the RCM’s Hogarth’s Stages project with Tête à Tête Opera.
The Young Composer in Residence scheme offers an emerging composer under the age of 30, a unique opportunity to be immersed in the work of an opera house; over the three years of the appointment, they are involved in the artistic, learning and audience development activities of the house as well as observing the creation of new productions, and of course producing their own new work. Luke Styles, who held the post from 2011 until 2014, will be familiar to audiences and readers from his settings of Shakespeare sonnets, Vanity, which premiered to glowing reviews during the 2013 season. Luke’s final composition for Glyndebourne is based on Macbeth and will be performed in the Jerwood Studio at the 2015 Festival.
Glyndebourne’s commitment to supporting and developing the careers of young artists is long established, and as general director David Pickard says, “The Young Composer in Residence programme offers an invaluable learning experience from which we think Lewis, with his flair for vocal writing and interest in composing for the stage, could gain a huge amount.” The composer describes it as “a fantastic opportunity to work closely with singers to explore my interest in writing for the voice and further develop my own musical style.” His latest work, Land Unknown for baritone and string quartet, will have its first performance at the RCM on January 28th 2015.
Further information can be found here.
