Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1962 in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Michael Alcorn is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1962. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Alcorn began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and bass. Alcorn studied music at Queen's University Belfast, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1984 and a PhD in 1991. During his time at Queen's, he studied composition with Piers Hellawell and James Clarke, and also took courses in electronic music and musicology. After completing his studies, Alcorn became a lecturer in music at Queen's University Belfast, where he taught composition, music technology, and musicology. He also served as the director of the Sonic Arts Research Centre at Queen's from 2001 to 2006. Alcorn's compositions are known for their use of electronic and computer-generated sounds, as well as their incorporation of traditional Irish music and other folk music traditions. He has written works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo performers. One of Alcorn's most notable works is his 1995 composition "The Book of Mirrors," which was commissioned by the Ulster Orchestra. The piece is scored for orchestra and computer-generated sounds, and was inspired by the idea of mirrors as a metaphor for self-reflection and introspection. The work has been performed by orchestras around the world, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Another notable work by Alcorn is his 2002 composition "The Star-Spangled Banner," which was commissioned by the Belfast Festival at Queen's. The piece is a reimagining of the American national anthem, incorporating elements of Irish traditional music and electronic sounds. The work has been performed by a variety of ensembles, including the Ulster Orchestra and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his work as a composer, Alcorn has also been involved in the development of music technology. He has worked on projects involving computer music, interactive music systems, and virtual reality environments for music performance. Alcorn has received numerous awards and honors for his work as a composer, including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Major Individual Artist Award in 2003 and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors' Gold Badge Award in 2018. He has also been a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts since 2006. Overall, Michael Alcorn is a highly respected composer and music educator who has made significant contributions to the field of contemporary classical music. His innovative use of electronic and computer-generated sounds, combined with his incorporation of traditional Irish and other folk music traditions, has resulted in a unique and distinctive body of work that continues to be performed and celebrated around the world.

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