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    joannamarshcomposer

    ๐ŸŽต C O M P O S E R ๐ŸŽต

    @commotio_choir are a fabulous chamber choir found @commotio_choir are a fabulous chamber choir founded and directed by Matthew Berry.

If youโ€™re around in Oxford, they are performing my โ€˜Evening Prayerโ€™ tonight at 19:30 at St. Margaretโ€™s Church.
    When Dubai airspace suddenly closed last week, Jem When Dubai airspace suddenly closed last week, Jem Herbert found himself unexpectedly stranded here while on his way to the UK for an audition.

Some very kind people took him in first, but when they ran out of space we scooped him up. In the end he was with us for less than 24 hours.

But what a 24 hours. Within minutes we realised we had an extraordinary number of people in common, including Andrew Griffiths, who runs the National Opera Studio. 

The biggest surprise of all was discovering that Jem spent a gap year in Durham working at the choir school and taught my two nieces piano. He even had Boxing Day with my sister and her family.

So this quick photo was taken to send to them, which explains the slight absence of โ€œhair and makeupโ€.

It was the best small-world moment. We adored Jem and are determined to stay in touch โœจ

Also, huge credit to Opera Australia, who helped fund his trip as part of their Young Artist Program๐Ÿ™
    I want to take a moment to thank @ensemblealtera a I want to take a moment to thank @ensemblealtera and their director @christopherlowrey for their beautiful recording of the Magnificat from my St. Paulโ€™s Service. This is such a remarkable CD, and Iโ€™m grateful to feature alongside music by Cecilia McDowall, Elizabeth Poston, Kerensa Briggs and Barbara Strozzi amongst others. A must-listen!
    Brilliant to catch up with composer Jeffery Wilson Brilliant to catch up with composer Jeffery Wilson, who is in Dubai this week with a terrific team from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

I went to their showcase concert today - the result of just four daysโ€™ intense work - and really loved it. The students gave themselves to it so whole-heartedly. I actually found myself welling up a few timesโ€ฆ and I didnโ€™t even have a child on stage ๐Ÿคช๐Ÿ˜‚

These opportunities donโ€™t come around very often out here, and when you know how much goes into them, you really cherish them on behalf of everyone involved.

Jeffery, btw, taught our son at Junior Guildhall, so this is actually the photo I took to send to him.

Warm thanks to the Center for Musical Arts Dubai for facilitating the course (and for the invitation), and huge congratulations to everyone involved in todayโ€™s fabulous performance at the New Covent Garden Theatre, MOE
    ๐Ÿ’˜ Happy Valentineโ€™s Day ๐Ÿ’˜ To celebrate, listen to ๐Ÿ’˜ Happy Valentineโ€™s Day ๐Ÿ’˜

To celebrate, listen to my setting of Imtiaz Dharker's remarkable and beloved poem. It was a commission from some dear friends to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Hereโ€™s a clip of the stunning recording from @thegesualdosix from their album โ€˜Lux Aeternaโ€™.
    So pleased I could be in Stockholm last night to h So pleased I could be in Stockholm last night to hear Zero8 and Chanticleer join forces in a stunning concert at the Konserthuset. Two choirs with such different personalities - Chanticleer glowing and vibrant with that effortless clarity and polish, Zero8 bursting with humour, swagger and huge emotional energy. Together they more than doubled their warmth and impact - honestly a top feast!

I was there to hear the music they co-commissioned, Winterโ€™s Garland, which unfolded with such a stunning warm blend (omg fantastic low bass notes ๐Ÿ‘€). But there was so much else to love in the rest of the programme. My favourites were @bmorganshreds arrangement of Shall We Gather, a gorgeous Indian piece Brahmamokate arranged by @vinoodlemahoodle and the joyous theatrics of Didnโ€™t my Lord deliver Daniel (Aaron Dale). Btw - very cool to find all these familiar faces in the audience โœจ
    Still smiling after the National Youth Choir Emerg Still smiling after the National Youth Choir Emerging Artists 2025 showcase. I mentor the composers on the programme each year, and last night was a brilliant celebration of the whole scheme - hearing new work shaped by guest composer-mentors (many of them there in the room - so fantastic to catch up!), performed by a choir made up of emerging artists and alumni.

The evening flowed so thoughtfully, with music woven together with videos and interviews about the programme: the room full of friends and supporters from across the music world ๐Ÿฅฐ

At a time when the arts/ music can feel weighed down by bleak headlines, this felt like pure joyous optimism. Exactly what we need more of.

Thank you NYC team for creating a space where this kind of magic can happen โœจ
    Staircase moment at @tenebraechoirโ€™s competition f Staircase moment at @tenebraechoirโ€™s competition for early-career composers with the wonderful @jmaxferdinand and Cecilia McDowall.

Huge congratulations to everyone who took part - such a pleasure to meet the composers and hear such a terrific range of pieces. And honestly: how ridiculously lucky they were. To have your music sung by Tenebrae is a dream scenario for any composer. The performances were absolutely on fire.

Winner announcements coming from Tenebraeโ€™s pageโ€ฆ but in the meantime: bravo all round ๐Ÿ‘โœจ
    On Sunday 8th February, @chanticleersf and @zero8c On Sunday 8th February, @chanticleersf and @zero8chorus will be giving the Swedish premiere of my โ€˜Winterโ€™s Garlandโ€™ at the Konserthuset Stockholm. 

โ€˜Hands and the Hourโ€™ is the first movement of this three-part choral collection. The music sets words by Jane Draycott about holding on to hope, while standing in the liminal space between endings and new beginnings.
    Really glad I made it to Dubai Opera for the conce Really glad I made it to Dubai Opera for the concert of the newly formed UAE National Orchestra โœจ The whole thing already feels so thoughtfully shaped from the programme to the sound world to the identity of the ensemble.

A special mention for Nadim Tarabayโ€™s piece: vivid, distinctive, beautifully structured, and such a skilful way of weaving traditional Emirati singing into the orchestra ๐ŸŽถ The use of oriental instruments throughout felt completely natural (so often it can feel a clunky add-on).

Exciting to be there at the very beginning ๐ŸŒŸ
    Today marks Epiphany. Two years ago, the Choir of Today marks Epiphany. Two years ago, the Choir of St Johnโ€™s College under the direction of Christopher Gray, premiered my piece Refugee at their Epiphany Carol Service. This video is taken from their live stream. Refugee is a setting of a poem by Malcolm Guite, inviting us to reflect on the contemporary realities of displacement and to consider the human cost of exile. 

Btw - I'm always intrigued by the discussion about whether to mix girl and boy choristers in a choir like this. I'm honestly not sure I would know whether I was listening to boys or girls here - would you? ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ It's just a stunning sound!
    Thank you @londiniumchoir for these gorgeous video Thank you @londiniumchoir for these gorgeous videos of โ€˜The Hidden Lightโ€™ and โ€˜Refugeeโ€™ from my choral triptych โ€˜Echoes in Time.โ€™

Londinium are performing a fantastic programme on Friday 19th December in St. Johnโ€™s Waterloo including these pieces alongside music by Tarik Oโ€™Regan, Ben Rowarth and Simon Beattie. What a Christmas treat! Not to be missed ๐Ÿคฉ๐ŸŽถ
    Currently in New York, where the highlight of my t Currently in New York, where the highlight of my time has been hearing Chanticleer perform my three pieces - Winterโ€™s Garland. Their performance was honestly exquisite! โœจIt was even more special to be able to share it with three great musician pals from my Cambridge and Royal Academy days - Richard Tanner, Philippa Hyde and Simon Yates. 
A final delight: a warm chat at Chanticleerโ€™s Gala with New York legend of stage and screen Dana Ivey - a conversation as enriching as the evening itself.
Plusโ€ฆ a great view out of my window this morning ๐ŸŒ†
    A little peek into rehearsals with @zero8chorus ๐ŸŽถ A little peek into rehearsals with @zero8chorus ๐ŸŽถ

Hearing their sound live was something else: so deep, rich, and beautifully tuned. Excited to be hearing their co-commission partners @chanticleersf perform these pieces in New York next week on the 5th and 7th December at St. Ignatius Loyola. (And Donโ€™t forget both choirs are giving a joint concert in Sweden February 8th!) ๐Ÿฅณ

Toi toi to Chanticleer for the premiere of Winterโ€™s Garland this Saturday in Fairfax, VA
    ๐Ÿ”ฅSuch a pleasure to meet and hear the fabulous sin ๐Ÿ”ฅSuch a pleasure to meet and hear the fabulous singers of Zero8 in Stockholm this week. You can hear their new co-commission with @chanticleersf on Chanticleerโ€™s newest release โ€œJoy to the worldโ€ - a stunning album. Do check it out - your Christmas music needs are completely covered here!๐ŸŽ„โœจ๐ŸŽถ Both choirs have a date in the diary for a joint performance on 8 Feb in Sweden which will be quite something! ๐Ÿ’–
    Things I LOVE about @stockholmskammarkor (just try Things I LOVE about @stockholmskammarkor (just trying to get these in the right orderโ€ฆ):
1๏ธโƒฃ They donโ€™t mind the composer turning up to the very first rehearsal ๐Ÿ˜…
2๏ธโƒฃ Theyโ€™re flipping good sight-readers and make a gorgeous sound ๐Ÿง
3๏ธโƒฃ They have FIKA in the break - complete with mini cinnamon rolls ๐Ÿฅน
4๏ธโƒฃ They all have excellent bone structure ๐Ÿคช๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ #cheekbones (Maybe thatโ€™s connected to No. 2โ€ฆ must consult some experts.)
    Thank you @thefourthchoir and @jampow99 for a rapt Thank you @thefourthchoir and @jampow99 for a rapturous UK premiere of No Final Shore this evening ๐Ÿ’–. Actually your entire concert was one of choral epicness! A programme that includes โ€˜low pitched terrifying monster noisesโ€™, will always get my vote!๐Ÿ‘น
    If youโ€™re in London today, come along to hear @the If youโ€™re in London today, come along to hear @thefourthchoir perform the UK Premiere of my piece โ€˜No Final Shoreโ€™ as part of a programme called Storm Cycle alongside works by Kerry Andrew and Imogen Holst. Hereโ€™s a little snippet of the opening of the piece setting words by Adonis (aka Ali Ahmad Said Esbar)
    ๐Ÿ“ฃThis coming Saturday 25 October 7.30pm a lovely c ๐Ÿ“ฃThis coming Saturday 25 October 7.30pm a lovely concert with @thefourthchoir at St Gabrielโ€™s Pimlico. Super pleased that they will be giving the UK Premiere of No Final Shore written for @christophergabbitas and @phoenixchorale. Loads of splendid music in their programme Storm Cycle - Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Imogen Holst, @kerry.andrew and Jaakko Mรคntyjรคrvi among others ๐ŸŽถโœจ
    It was super special to find that Haileybury Chamb It was super special to find that Haileybury Chamber Choir and Hugh Rowlands had included Thou Hast Searched Me and Known Me on their recent album released back on 15th August. Itโ€™s a thing that composers tend to know when the first recordings of pieces are but after that itโ€™s all sort of up for grabs. And then THIS - this lovely performance turns up one day. So impressed! ๐Ÿ’› What a great choir ๐ŸŽถ a big (slightly belated) but heartfelt THANK YOU to you all xxx
    Follow on Instagram

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    joannamarshcomposer

    ๐ŸŽต C O M P O S E R ๐ŸŽต

    @commotio_choir are a fabulous chamber choir found @commotio_choir are a fabulous chamber choir founded and directed by Matthew Berry.

If youโ€™re around in Oxford, they are performing my โ€˜Evening Prayerโ€™ tonight at 19:30 at St. Margaretโ€™s Church.
    When Dubai airspace suddenly closed last week, Jem When Dubai airspace suddenly closed last week, Jem Herbert found himself unexpectedly stranded here while on his way to the UK for an audition.

Some very kind people took him in first, but when they ran out of space we scooped him up. In the end he was with us for less than 24 hours.

But what a 24 hours. Within minutes we realised we had an extraordinary number of people in common, including Andrew Griffiths, who runs the National Opera Studio. 

The biggest surprise of all was discovering that Jem spent a gap year in Durham working at the choir school and taught my two nieces piano. He even had Boxing Day with my sister and her family.

So this quick photo was taken to send to them, which explains the slight absence of โ€œhair and makeupโ€.

It was the best small-world moment. We adored Jem and are determined to stay in touch โœจ

Also, huge credit to Opera Australia, who helped fund his trip as part of their Young Artist Program๐Ÿ™
    I want to take a moment to thank @ensemblealtera a I want to take a moment to thank @ensemblealtera and their director @christopherlowrey for their beautiful recording of the Magnificat from my St. Paulโ€™s Service. This is such a remarkable CD, and Iโ€™m grateful to feature alongside music by Cecilia McDowall, Elizabeth Poston, Kerensa Briggs and Barbara Strozzi amongst others. A must-listen!
    Brilliant to catch up with composer Jeffery Wilson Brilliant to catch up with composer Jeffery Wilson, who is in Dubai this week with a terrific team from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

I went to their showcase concert today - the result of just four daysโ€™ intense work - and really loved it. The students gave themselves to it so whole-heartedly. I actually found myself welling up a few timesโ€ฆ and I didnโ€™t even have a child on stage ๐Ÿคช๐Ÿ˜‚

These opportunities donโ€™t come around very often out here, and when you know how much goes into them, you really cherish them on behalf of everyone involved.

Jeffery, btw, taught our son at Junior Guildhall, so this is actually the photo I took to send to him.

Warm thanks to the Center for Musical Arts Dubai for facilitating the course (and for the invitation), and huge congratulations to everyone involved in todayโ€™s fabulous performance at the New Covent Garden Theatre, MOE
    ๐Ÿ’˜ Happy Valentineโ€™s Day ๐Ÿ’˜ To celebrate, listen to ๐Ÿ’˜ Happy Valentineโ€™s Day ๐Ÿ’˜

To celebrate, listen to my setting of Imtiaz Dharker's remarkable and beloved poem. It was a commission from some dear friends to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Hereโ€™s a clip of the stunning recording from @thegesualdosix from their album โ€˜Lux Aeternaโ€™.
    So pleased I could be in Stockholm last night to h So pleased I could be in Stockholm last night to hear Zero8 and Chanticleer join forces in a stunning concert at the Konserthuset. Two choirs with such different personalities - Chanticleer glowing and vibrant with that effortless clarity and polish, Zero8 bursting with humour, swagger and huge emotional energy. Together they more than doubled their warmth and impact - honestly a top feast!

I was there to hear the music they co-commissioned, Winterโ€™s Garland, which unfolded with such a stunning warm blend (omg fantastic low bass notes ๐Ÿ‘€). But there was so much else to love in the rest of the programme. My favourites were @bmorganshreds arrangement of Shall We Gather, a gorgeous Indian piece Brahmamokate arranged by @vinoodlemahoodle and the joyous theatrics of Didnโ€™t my Lord deliver Daniel (Aaron Dale). Btw - very cool to find all these familiar faces in the audience โœจ
    Still smiling after the National Youth Choir Emerg Still smiling after the National Youth Choir Emerging Artists 2025 showcase. I mentor the composers on the programme each year, and last night was a brilliant celebration of the whole scheme - hearing new work shaped by guest composer-mentors (many of them there in the room - so fantastic to catch up!), performed by a choir made up of emerging artists and alumni.

The evening flowed so thoughtfully, with music woven together with videos and interviews about the programme: the room full of friends and supporters from across the music world ๐Ÿฅฐ

At a time when the arts/ music can feel weighed down by bleak headlines, this felt like pure joyous optimism. Exactly what we need more of.

Thank you NYC team for creating a space where this kind of magic can happen โœจ
    Staircase moment at @tenebraechoirโ€™s competition f Staircase moment at @tenebraechoirโ€™s competition for early-career composers with the wonderful @jmaxferdinand and Cecilia McDowall.

Huge congratulations to everyone who took part - such a pleasure to meet the composers and hear such a terrific range of pieces. And honestly: how ridiculously lucky they were. To have your music sung by Tenebrae is a dream scenario for any composer. The performances were absolutely on fire.

Winner announcements coming from Tenebraeโ€™s pageโ€ฆ but in the meantime: bravo all round ๐Ÿ‘โœจ
    On Sunday 8th February, @chanticleersf and @zero8c On Sunday 8th February, @chanticleersf and @zero8chorus will be giving the Swedish premiere of my โ€˜Winterโ€™s Garlandโ€™ at the Konserthuset Stockholm. 

โ€˜Hands and the Hourโ€™ is the first movement of this three-part choral collection. The music sets words by Jane Draycott about holding on to hope, while standing in the liminal space between endings and new beginnings.
    Really glad I made it to Dubai Opera for the conce Really glad I made it to Dubai Opera for the concert of the newly formed UAE National Orchestra โœจ The whole thing already feels so thoughtfully shaped from the programme to the sound world to the identity of the ensemble.

A special mention for Nadim Tarabayโ€™s piece: vivid, distinctive, beautifully structured, and such a skilful way of weaving traditional Emirati singing into the orchestra ๐ŸŽถ The use of oriental instruments throughout felt completely natural (so often it can feel a clunky add-on).

Exciting to be there at the very beginning ๐ŸŒŸ
    Today marks Epiphany. Two years ago, the Choir of Today marks Epiphany. Two years ago, the Choir of St Johnโ€™s College under the direction of Christopher Gray, premiered my piece Refugee at their Epiphany Carol Service. This video is taken from their live stream. Refugee is a setting of a poem by Malcolm Guite, inviting us to reflect on the contemporary realities of displacement and to consider the human cost of exile. 

Btw - I'm always intrigued by the discussion about whether to mix girl and boy choristers in a choir like this. I'm honestly not sure I would know whether I was listening to boys or girls here - would you? ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ It's just a stunning sound!
    Thank you @londiniumchoir for these gorgeous video Thank you @londiniumchoir for these gorgeous videos of โ€˜The Hidden Lightโ€™ and โ€˜Refugeeโ€™ from my choral triptych โ€˜Echoes in Time.โ€™

Londinium are performing a fantastic programme on Friday 19th December in St. Johnโ€™s Waterloo including these pieces alongside music by Tarik Oโ€™Regan, Ben Rowarth and Simon Beattie. What a Christmas treat! Not to be missed ๐Ÿคฉ๐ŸŽถ
    Currently in New York, where the highlight of my t Currently in New York, where the highlight of my time has been hearing Chanticleer perform my three pieces - Winterโ€™s Garland. Their performance was honestly exquisite! โœจIt was even more special to be able to share it with three great musician pals from my Cambridge and Royal Academy days - Richard Tanner, Philippa Hyde and Simon Yates. 
A final delight: a warm chat at Chanticleerโ€™s Gala with New York legend of stage and screen Dana Ivey - a conversation as enriching as the evening itself.
Plusโ€ฆ a great view out of my window this morning ๐ŸŒ†
    A little peek into rehearsals with @zero8chorus ๐ŸŽถ A little peek into rehearsals with @zero8chorus ๐ŸŽถ

Hearing their sound live was something else: so deep, rich, and beautifully tuned. Excited to be hearing their co-commission partners @chanticleersf perform these pieces in New York next week on the 5th and 7th December at St. Ignatius Loyola. (And Donโ€™t forget both choirs are giving a joint concert in Sweden February 8th!) ๐Ÿฅณ

Toi toi to Chanticleer for the premiere of Winterโ€™s Garland this Saturday in Fairfax, VA
    ๐Ÿ”ฅSuch a pleasure to meet and hear the fabulous sin ๐Ÿ”ฅSuch a pleasure to meet and hear the fabulous singers of Zero8 in Stockholm this week. You can hear their new co-commission with @chanticleersf on Chanticleerโ€™s newest release โ€œJoy to the worldโ€ - a stunning album. Do check it out - your Christmas music needs are completely covered here!๐ŸŽ„โœจ๐ŸŽถ Both choirs have a date in the diary for a joint performance on 8 Feb in Sweden which will be quite something! ๐Ÿ’–
    Things I LOVE about @stockholmskammarkor (just try Things I LOVE about @stockholmskammarkor (just trying to get these in the right orderโ€ฆ):
1๏ธโƒฃ They donโ€™t mind the composer turning up to the very first rehearsal ๐Ÿ˜…
2๏ธโƒฃ Theyโ€™re flipping good sight-readers and make a gorgeous sound ๐Ÿง
3๏ธโƒฃ They have FIKA in the break - complete with mini cinnamon rolls ๐Ÿฅน
4๏ธโƒฃ They all have excellent bone structure ๐Ÿคช๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ #cheekbones (Maybe thatโ€™s connected to No. 2โ€ฆ must consult some experts.)
    Thank you @thefourthchoir and @jampow99 for a rapt Thank you @thefourthchoir and @jampow99 for a rapturous UK premiere of No Final Shore this evening ๐Ÿ’–. Actually your entire concert was one of choral epicness! A programme that includes โ€˜low pitched terrifying monster noisesโ€™, will always get my vote!๐Ÿ‘น
    If youโ€™re in London today, come along to hear @the If youโ€™re in London today, come along to hear @thefourthchoir perform the UK Premiere of my piece โ€˜No Final Shoreโ€™ as part of a programme called Storm Cycle alongside works by Kerry Andrew and Imogen Holst. Hereโ€™s a little snippet of the opening of the piece setting words by Adonis (aka Ali Ahmad Said Esbar)
    ๐Ÿ“ฃThis coming Saturday 25 October 7.30pm a lovely c ๐Ÿ“ฃThis coming Saturday 25 October 7.30pm a lovely concert with @thefourthchoir at St Gabrielโ€™s Pimlico. Super pleased that they will be giving the UK Premiere of No Final Shore written for @christophergabbitas and @phoenixchorale. Loads of splendid music in their programme Storm Cycle - Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Imogen Holst, @kerry.andrew and Jaakko Mรคntyjรคrvi among others ๐ŸŽถโœจ
    It was super special to find that Haileybury Chamb It was super special to find that Haileybury Chamber Choir and Hugh Rowlands had included Thou Hast Searched Me and Known Me on their recent album released back on 15th August. Itโ€™s a thing that composers tend to know when the first recordings of pieces are but after that itโ€™s all sort of up for grabs. And then THIS - this lovely performance turns up one day. So impressed! ๐Ÿ’› What a great choir ๐ŸŽถ a big (slightly belated) but heartfelt THANK YOU to you all xxx
    Follow on Instagram