Flute
Welcome to my website. Here you will find some information about my work, illustrated with some of my own photographs.
The images remind me of travels, projects and friends. They remind me of the big world out there, waiting to be shared and explored.
Projects:
Lost and Found
Thanks to funding from Creative Scotland, I have commissioned new work for solo flute, and alto flute from 5 brilliant composers. I have also written a new piece myself and have recorded some existing works. The 10 videos of all of the pieces are available from the link below:
I hope you enjoy exploring, there is some fantastic new music there!
Red Note Ensemble
Red Note is Scotland’s contemporary music ensemble. We are associate contemporary ensemble at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Associate ensemble at Sound Festival, Aberdeen
Recent work has included recording a new James Dillon CD for Delphian, performances at Lammermuir, Edinburgh and Huddersfield festivals and broadcasts for Radio 3. I have always loved the process of developing new work with composers. Seeing a new piece come to life never gets old. www.rednoteensemble.com
Teaching
Teaching has always been a big part of my life as a musician. I am Lecturer in flute at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) where I enjoy teaching students from all over the world. Back in 1996 I set up the Scottish International Flute Summer School and I ran the first course with Peter Lloyd in St Andrews that summer. I was the director for 20 years, and it has grown into one of the leading flute courses in the world. I still enjoy teaching on the course which is an amazing meeting point for flute players, both students and teaching colleagues.
Writing
Exciting News!! Neon Flicker, my solo flute piece, is now published by Tetractys.
Having experimented with writing a few pieces as a child and as a student, I have come back to writing recently. I now have a new book: Etudes and Exercises published by Tetractys, and also a trio called Interlaced.
More exciting news: My piece Neon Flicker was shortlisted in the Scottish Awards for New Music 2023.
My new solo flute piece Whisper is published! I wrote this piece in early 2024, and it was shortlisted for the Alpine Society Music Prize. Now available from Tetractys.
I’ve also been busy writing a new piece for Red Note Ensemble which will be out and about in 2026.
Flute and Voice
It has been a joy to work with Laura Bowler over the last few years. We met teaching on the Go Compose course at Sound Festival in Aberdeenshire, and we have been working together on and off ever since. We have been touring Gaia, which includes new music by Laura herself, Carmel Smickersgill and Diedre McKay. We have also worked with young composers from RCS and RNCM developing and performing their work. Some highlights have been premiering Gaia at Sound Festival, performing as part of the superb Radio 3 New Music Show live special from the Cop26 conference in Glasgow in November 2021, and being part of the Aldeburgh festival at Snape Maltings in 2022. We were at Wigmore Hall in June 2023, and earlier 2024 we had a fantastic time playing a concert and working with students at RCM in London.
Flute, Viola, Harp
Harpist Sharron Griffiths and Violist Scott Dickinson make the perfect chamber music partners. It is always a treat to be working with them both. www.fluteviolaharp.com
Come and hear us at Strathearn Music Society in Crief 11th September 2024.
Contact me: click here