Dani Howard is a British composer and orchestrator who is quickly gaining international recognition with regular performances across Europe, the US and Asia. 2019 marked her debut with the LSO  (a new commission for Cheltenham Festival conducted by Elim Chan), BBC Symphony Orchestra and a return to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic with a new commission for the opening of their 2019-20 season conducted by Vasily Petrenko. In 2021 she looks forward to the premiere of a new Trombone Concerto written for Peter Moore (Principal Trombone, LSO) with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. As well as commissions with the Marian Consort, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the ORA singers among others. 

Michael Zev Gordon’s music has been described as ‘a clockmaker’s craftmanship [which] somehow coincides with romantic phantasmagoria’ (Sunday Times). Memory, time and the pursuit of serenity are recurring themes.                                                                                                                                                       Major projects in the 2020s include Raising Icarus – described in the Guardian as a ‘high-flying chamber opera that packs a punch’ – and the release of two new albums: The Impermanence of Things (NMC), featuring commissions from the BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, and Diary Pieces (Resonus), an ongoing series of piano miniatures. 2025 looks forward to Gordon’s most personal statement to date, as he reflects upon memory and the Holocaust in A Kind of Haunting, a commission for Britten Sinfonia.

Michael Price’s first taste of composing was for contemporary dance choreographers over 20 years ago. Price loved the freedom and creativity, but when he was offered a chance to be the assistant to the late Michael Kamen on the film score for Paramount picture Event Horizon this led to exciting music editing and arranging work including on the Academy Award-winning Children of Men, the Lord of the Rings trilogy and James Bond: Quantum of Solace, then headline composition roles on the small screen for Sherlock, Dracula, and Unforgotten.                                                                                                 Michael also craves the opportunity to work without click tracks, headphones and film, which has led to collaborations with Erased Tapes and Manchester Collective and showcases his hyper-detailed orchestral work, as heard on critically acclaimed releases such as Entanglement (2015) and Tender Symmetry (2018). Michael is keen to explore further collaborations in the concert space in the UK and further afield.

Bernard Hughes music is colourful and exciting; often exemplified by his rhythmically propulsive choral works. Bernard is also drawn to writing hilarious, witty orchestral works to delight a family audience but enjoys esoteric writing through his chamber music. His music is bound together with melodic poise that revels in unlikely juxtapositions and new perspectives.

Diana Yukawa is a revolutionary violinist and composer of electronic classical music. Writing and releasing her own original music, a dynamic performer appearing on some of the worlds most prolific stages, she is one-third of Ghost Harmonic. Diana demonstrates that the violin is a diverse instrument captivating event-goers with her powerful performance and through her original compositions has created a refreshing, electronic classical sound that enthrals audiences all over the world.

Russell Pascoe is a celebrated Cornish composer, conductor, and educator known for his powerful choral works and deep connection to Cornwall's cultural heritage. Pascoe’s compositions reflect his Cornish roots and commitment to innovation in choral music.                                                                                                                                         Among his major works, Secular Requiem, commissioned by the Three Spires Singers in 2012, stands out as a landmark piece. Set to a thought-provoking text assembled by Anthony Pinching, the work has been lauded as “outstandingly beautiful” and resonates with audiences for its universal themes and hopeful outlook. Following its premiere at Truro Cathedral and later in London, it remains a highlight of his career, with ongoing performances planned by prestigious ensembles.         

Steven Daverson an alumnus of the Royal Northern College of Music & the Royal College of Music; studied under David Horne, Jonathan Cole and Mark-Anthony Turnage. His work has been featured across Europe, from Aldeburgh Festival, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Darmstadt Ferienkurse, Traiettoria Parma to the Wittener Tage für Neue Kammermusik. In 2011, Steven was the youngest-ever recipient of the Composer’s prize of the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung. Recent projects include a revised version Arkanar: A Report from the Interior for microtonal tuba and live electronics, performed at the Darmstadt Ferienkurse in 2018 with a UK première in 2019. In 2019-20, he became a fellow of the Internationales Künstlerhaus Villa Concordia in Bamberg.

Photo Michael Aust

Samuel Andreyev is a composer, author, professor and host of the Samuel Andreyev Podcast.His chamber, orchestral, vocal and solo works have been performed, recorded and broadcast throughout the world. His YouTube channel, interviews and lectures have reached millions of people.                                                                                                   Samuel Andreyev’s music has been featured in portrait concerts in Bern, Geneva, Toronto, Paris, Kyiv, Strasbourg, Montréal, Tours, and many other cities. Andreyev is a laureat of the Henri Dutilleux Prize (2012, for ‘Night Division’), and the Grand Prix Lycéen des Compositeurs (2020, for ‘Vérifications’). He is also Vice President of the music council of the Fondation Prince Pierre (Monaco).

Working with artists, composers, publishers and lablels from the British Isles. Naomi and Matthew are exploring opportunities for placing cutting-edge cotemporary Classical Music in Television, Films, Advertising, Games and beyond.                                                                                                                                       'The best of cutting-edge contemporary classical music from the British Isles. Featuring instrumental, avant-garde, ambient, and experimental sounds'

Outside Music and supporting composers and artists; one from my favourite pastimes is whisky. So especially in a time of not much socialising I thought I might share the whisky I am mostly drinking this week!