Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

September 11, 1963

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

John Pickard is a British composer who was born on August 19, 1963, in Burnley, Lancashire. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a brass band conductor and his mother a pianist. Pickard started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and the euphonium. He attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he studied composition with Anthony Gilbert and John Casken. Pickard's early works were influenced by the music of composers such as Stravinsky, Bartók, and Shostakovich. His first major composition, the Symphony No. 1, was written when he was just 21 years old and was premiered by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in 1985. The symphony was well-received and established Pickard as a promising young composer. In the years that followed, Pickard continued to compose orchestral works, including the Symphony No. 2, which was commissioned by the BBC and premiered in 1991. He also wrote chamber music, choral works, and music for solo instruments. His music was characterized by its rhythmic energy, colorful orchestration, and use of folk melodies and other traditional forms. One of Pickard's most notable works is the Concerto for Orchestra, which was commissioned by the BBC and premiered by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 2002. The piece is a virtuosic showcase for the orchestra, with each section of the ensemble given a chance to shine. The Concerto for Orchestra has been performed by orchestras around the world and has become one of Pickard's most popular works. Another significant work by Pickard is the opera The Gardener, which was commissioned by the Royal Opera House and premiered in 2011. The opera tells the story of a gardener who becomes obsessed with a mysterious plant and is ultimately destroyed by his own desires. The Gardener was praised for its lush orchestration and dramatic intensity. In addition to his work as a composer, Pickard is also a respected musicologist and has written extensively on the music of the 20th century. He has published articles and books on composers such as Stravinsky, Bartók, and Ligeti, and has taught at universities in the UK and the US. Pickard's music has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the British Composer Award for Orchestral Music in 2017. Overall, John Pickard is a composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His music is characterized by its energy, color, and use of traditional forms, and his works have been performed and admired by audiences around the world.

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