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Composer  

 

Kate Whitley is a British composer who was born on August 23, 1989, in London, England. She grew up in a musical family, with her mother being a pianist and her father a composer. Whitley began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. She attended the Royal College of Music Junior Department and later studied at the University of York, where she earned a degree in music. Whitley's early compositions were influenced by her love of jazz and popular music. She began to explore classical music and was particularly drawn to the works of contemporary composers such as Steve Reich and John Adams. Her compositions often incorporate elements of minimalism and repetition, as well as a strong sense of melody and rhythm. One of Whitley's early works, "I am I say," was commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 2011. The piece is a setting of a poem by Neil Diamond and features a solo soprano accompanied by a large orchestra. The work received critical acclaim and helped to establish Whitley as a rising star in the classical music world. In 2013, Whitley co-founded the Multi-Story Orchestra, a London-based ensemble that performs in non-traditional spaces such as car parks and warehouses. The group has gained a reputation for its innovative programming and has commissioned works from a number of contemporary composers, including Whitley herself. Whitley's most well-known work to date is "Sky Dances," a piece for orchestra and choir that was commissioned by the BBC Proms in 2018. The work was inspired by the natural world and features soaring melodies and lush harmonies. The premiere performance, which was conducted by Sakari Oramo, received a standing ovation and was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In addition to her work as a composer, Whitley is also a passionate advocate for music education. She has worked with a number of organizations to promote music education in schools and has written several pieces for young musicians. In 2019, she was appointed as the artistic director of the London-based music education charity, the Street Orchestra of London. Whitley's music has been performed by a number of leading orchestras and ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Aurora Orchestra. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize and the Women of the Future Award in the Arts and Culture category. Overall, Kate Whitley is a talented and innovative composer who has made a significant impact on the classical music world. Her works are characterized by their strong sense of melody and rhythm, as well as their incorporation of elements from a variety of musical genres. With her passion for music education and commitment to promoting new music, Whitley is sure to continue to be a major force in the world of classical music for years to come.

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