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Occupation: composer; Principal, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, 1996–2008
Birth date: 23 July 1945
Birth details: s of Edward Gregson and May Elizabeth (née Eaves)
Family details: m 1967, Susan Carole Smith; two s
Education: Manchester Central Grammar Sch.; Royal Academy of Music (GRSM, LRAM);
Goldsmiths’ Coll., Univ. of London (BMus Hons)
Career: Lectr in Music, Rachel McMillan Coll., London, 1970–76; Sen. Lectr, 1976–89, Reader, 1989–94, and Prof. of Music, 1994–96, Goldsmiths’ Coll., Univ. of London. Composer in Assoc., Black Dyke Band, 2016; Composer in Residence, Presteign Fest., 2017. Hon. Prof. of Music, Univ. of Manchester, 1996. Mem., Music Industry Forum, DCMS, 1998–2001; Bd Mem., Cultural Consortium Northwest, 2003–04; Chm., Conservatoires UK, 2004–08. Vice-Chm., Composers’ Guild, 1976–78; Chm., Assoc. of Professional Composers, 1989–91; Director: PRS, 1995–2010, 2012–21; Associated Bd of Royal Schs of Music, 1996–2008; Hallé Orch., 1998–2006. Gov. and Feoffee, Chetham’s Sch. of Music, 1996–2019. Trustee: Nat. Foundn for Youth Music, 1999–2003; PRS Foundn, 2009–18. Companion, RNCM, 2008. Fellow: Dartington Coll. of Arts, 1997; Leeds Coll. of Music, 2008. FRAM 1990; FRNCM 1998; Hon. FLCM 1999; FRCM 2000. Hon. DMus: Sunderland, 1996; Lancaster, 2006; Manchester, 2008; Chester, 2009; Hon. DArts Manchester Metropolitan, 2003; DUniv UCE, 2007. Ivors Acad. British Composer’s Award, 2019; BBC Radio 3 'Composer of the Week', 2022. Compositions include: Oboe Sonata, 1965; Brass Quintet, 1967; Music for Chamber Orchestra, 1968; Horn Concerto, 1971; Essay for Brass Band, 1971; Tuba Concerto, 1976; Music for the York Cycle of Mystery Plays, 1976 and 1980; Connotations for Brass Band, 1977; Metamorphoses, 1979; Trombone Concerto, 1979; Trumpet Concerto, 1983; Piano Sonata in one movement, 1983; Contrasts for orchestra, 1983, revised 2001 as Contrasts—a concerto for orch.; Dances and Arias, 1984; Festivo, 1985; Missa Brevis Pacem, 1988; RSC History Play Cycles: Plantagenets Trilogy, 1988–89; Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, 1990–91; Celebration, 1991; Of Men and Mountains, 1991; The Sword and the Crown, 1991; Blazon, 1992; Clarinet Concerto, 1994; Concerto for Piano and Wind, 1995; The Kings Go Forth, 1996; Stepping Out, 1996; A Welcome Ode, 1997; …And the Seven Trumpets, 1998; Three Matisse Impressions, 1998; The Dance, forever the Dance, 1999; Violin Concerto, 2000; The Trumpets of the Angels, 2000, new performing edn 2016; An Age of Kings, 2004; Shadow of Paradise, for Oboe and Percussion, 2005; Saxophone Concerto, 2006; A Song for Chris – concerto for cello and chamber orchestra, 2007; Rococo Variations, 2008; Goddess, for string orchestra, 2009; Aztec Dances for recorder (or flute) and piano, 2010; Dream Song for large orch., 2010; Tributes for clarinet and piano, 2010; An Album for my Friends (piano), 2011; Triptych for solo violin, 2011; Symphony in two movements for brass band, 2012; Of Distant Memories (for brass band), 2013; Concerto for flute and ensemble, 2013; Three John Donne Settings for choir, 2013;
String Quartet, 2014; Symphony in two movements (for symphonic brass and percussion), 2015; Cornet Concerto, 2016; Four Etudes (for brass band), 2016; Le Jardin à Giverny (cor anglais and string quartet), 2016; The Sad Tale of Barbara Allen (for upper voices and piano, and for SATB and piano), 2017; String Quartet no 2, 2017; Blow, blow, thou Winter Wind (SATB), 2017; Fanfare for a New Era (symphonic brass and percussion), 2017; Euphonium Concerto, 2018; The Salamander and the Moonraker (An Adventure Story in Music for narrator, children’s choir and orchestra), 2018; Music of the Angels (symphonic brass and percussion), 2019; A Vision of Paradise (oboe concerto), 2020; The World Rejoicing (brass band), 2020; Three Etudes for piano, 2020; Notes Between Friends (cello and piano), 2020 (commnd by BBC Radio 4 for Brexit Day, 2020); Love Goddess for viola and piano,
2020; A Song for Sue for piano, 2020; Benedictus for alto saxophone and strings, 2021; commns from orchestras incl. English Chamber, Bournemouth Symphony, Royal Liverpool, Halle and BBC Philharmonic; many broadcasts, partic BBC Radio 3.
Publications: (contrib.) Composers on the Nine, 2011; music articles in professional jls incl. Musical Opinion, BBC Music Mag., Classical Music, Brass Band World
Recreations: walking the dogs, wine, watching sport
Address: c/o Novello Publishing Ltd, 14/15 Berners Street, W1T 3LJ
e-mail: promotion@wisemusic.com
Website: www.edwardgregson.com