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John Hails was born in 1978 and didn't know
what a composer was until he became one at the age of eighteen. In 1999
he graduated from Durham university with a BA Hons. degree in Music, studying
with Paul Archbold, Fabrice Fitch, and Deidre Gribben, and will continue
his education next year at Huddersfield University, studying for a Masters
degree in Composition with Christopher Fox. His music has been performed
by ensembles as varied as Durham University Chamber Choir, Gemini, and
Capricorn, and has been shortlisted by spnm (the Society for the
Promotion of New Music) two years running. Last year he was also awarded
a bursary by the Performing Rights Society to take part in the York University
Spring Festival of New Music as a visiting composer. While at Durham,
his performances of Cage (TV Koln and Four4) , Davies (Eight
Songs for a Mad King), Satie (Vexations), and Machaut (Messe
de Notre Dame) generated much interest. At present, John is working
on a set of piano pieces and a large scale setting of Blake (The
Marriage of Heaven and Hell). Meanwhile, he is threatening to
finish his opera one day... Back to shortlist. |
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