NEWS
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I’m really excited to work on a new project: composing twelve choral pieces that creatively explore sustainability and the climate crisis. This is a project that is very close to my heart, and is now made possible with generous funding from Creative Scotland.
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Theorie van Alles performed at Dutch National Opera in October 2025!
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Herinnering is written for Remembrance Week (May 2025), commissioned and performed by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
and funded by the Rudi Martinus van Dijk foundation.Interview by Thea Derks for Intrada Magazine, translated for Contemporary Classical.
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It’s a huge honour to write a piece for Concertgebouworkest Young’s 2023 programme. Listen to the muscle that raises the wing here.
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De Theorie Van Alles /The Theory Of Everything
A new opera for children at Dutch National Opera & Ballet, performed in December 2023 -January 2024.
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De Theorie van Tijd
In March 2023, 180 children from around the Netherlands sang the newly commissioned piece ‘De Theorie van Tijd’, to experience what it’s like to be on stage and perform opera. At the Children’s Chorus Festival 2023 at Dutch National Opera.
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Forest Bathing is written for UPROAR, conducted by Michael Rafferty.
Carlijn Metselaar’s Forest Bathing followed, a beautiful, Debussy-like exercise in tranquillity…an entrancing evocation. - Buzz Magazine
Carlijn Metselaar’s Forest Bathing was a gentle foil to this, inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku, finding wellbeing by being among trees. Quietly unhurried and atmospheric, the piece’s use of low instruments – cello, bass clarinet, contrabassoon and double-bass – to carry the darkly meandering melodic lines added a strong feeling of groundedness. - The Guardian
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Into The Living Mountain
It was a huge privilege to be part of the RSNO Composers Hub:2019. My piece ‘Into The Living Mountain’ was premiered in February 2022 by the RSNO, conducted by Thomas Søndergård.
There’s a link of the announcement here. Also, there’s a short video in which I discuss the piece with RSNO Associate Principal Oboe Peter Dykes.
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Inner Voices is a new CD with music commissioned and performed by BBC NOW violist Laura Sinnerton. It's released by Birmingham Record Company and has new compositions by six different early career composers. It's been really inspiring to get to work with her on a new piece for this CD, especially during lockdowns. Have a listen to some beautiful and interesting new viola music, with composers Sarah Lianne Westmore, Patrick Ellis, Jimena Maldonado, Anselm McDonnell and Emily Abdy.
The CD is available here, and there’s an interview with Laura here.
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Many thanks to Wild Plum Arts for offering librettist Sophie Rashbrook and me a residency at Made At The Red House in August to work on a new children’s opera together!
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Time For Your Walk
Many thanks to BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Maxime Tortelier for performing ‘Time For Your Walk’ as part of their Digital Concert Series!
The concert is available to watch in the UK here.
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Vorfreude Fanfare
My orchestral ‘Vorfreude’ fanfare was premiered at the inaugural concert of Andrés Orozco-Estrada as the new Music Director of the Wiener Symphoniker following a Call For Scores competition. The piece was performed in the Vienna Konzerthaus in October 2020.
You can find an interview on Radio 4 NTR Podium (Dutch) here. -
It has been a huge privilege to take part in the RSNO Composers Hub this year, mentored by Stuart MacRae, for which I wrote ‘Into The Living Mountain’, an 8 minute piece for orchestra.
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Time For Your Walk
Performance at Debut Sounds in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, 1st July 2019
Performed by LPO and Foyle Future Firsts
Conductor - James MacMillan