COMPOSER: Gavin Higgins

Gavin’s composition While Time Quietly Kills Them was chosen to be premiered during Manchester Camerata’s season opening concert on 25 September 2010.

Born in Gloucestershire in 1983, Gavin grew up in the Forest of Dean beginning his musical life in the local brass band. Gavin has studied at Chethams School of Music, The Royal Northern College of Music, The Sydney Conservatorium and the Royal College of Music (supported by the AHRC and Douglas and Hilda Simmonds Awards), studying with Gary Carpenter and Ken Hesketh. During his time at the RCM Gavin also became a Sound and Music (SPNM) shortlisted composer.

Listen to Gavin’s composition While Time Quietly Kills Them

Gavin has had music performed by numerous ensembles and soloists throughout the UK and is regularly commissioned to write new works. His Alarms for solo trumpet and Road Works for percussion have proven popular with BBC Young Musician Finalists, both are regularly performed in the competition. Another popular work, Rage Dances was written for and performed by members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and more recently by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s contemporary music group, Ensemble 10:10.

Other commissions include Urban Fairy Tales, performed as part of the Rising Star Series at the Cadogan Hall, Mechanical Cabaret as part of the Exhibition Road Music Day Festival and Fanfares and Love Songs written for the National Children’s Band of Great Britain.

A Forest Symphony, written as part of the Voices in the Forest Festival and played by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain was selected for the wind and brass section of the British Composer Awards in 2008 and Three Broken Love Songs, written for BBC Young Musician of the Year winner Mark Simpson which is to be recorded on the NMC label in Autumn this year.

His virtuoso work for trombone, ‘Freaks!’ has been recorded by Brett Baker and the Polysteel (flowers) band on the Polyphonic label and the eccentric Tango was recorded by the world famous Black Dyke Mills Band on the album ‘Rathamataz’. His first work for orchestra, Dancing At The Edge Of Hell, was recently premiered and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and his latest orchestral venture is to be performed by the Manchester Camerata in September this year.

Gavin is also the first ever Music Fellow to the Rambert Dance Company. He is currently working closely with Rambert choreographers, dancers and musicians on a number of exciting projects.