Stephen Beville Epicycle for piccolo, flute, clarinet, 2 trumpets, cornet, percussion, piano and strings duration: 10 minutes Stephen Beville started to compose at the age of eleven, shortly before his first piano lessons. He attended the Junior Academy (RAM) for five years and studied piano, composition, and conducting. From 1995–98, he read music at the universities of York and Huddersfield, whilst studying composition with Richard Steinitz and piano with Peter Katin. During this time, he performed much contemporary music including pieces by Birtwistle, Boulez and Lutoslawski, as well as electro-acoustic works for instruments and tape. He has given performances at numerous venues including Dartington Hall, Wells Town Hall, Bearwood College (Reading), Wilde Theatre (Bracknell), St Pauls Hall (Huddersfield), and the British Music Information Centre in London. At Huddersfield, he performed at the 1997 Contemporary Music festival. Stephen graduated with a First class honours degree, and was awarded the Wilfred Mellers prize and the Rodwell prize. Stephen's music has been performed at distinguished places such as the Royal Academy and Royal Northern College of Music, and the BMIC. The early Chamber Concerto was premiered by the Manson Ensemble before being selected by the Society for Promotion of New Music in 1994. This resulted in a Music Projects – London performance, conducted by Martyn Brabbins at St Giles Cripplegate, the Barbican. Other works that have been short-listed by the spnm include the Ballade for Eight Players, the string quartet Purgatory, and Epicycle for chamber orchestra. His most recent work is the Meditations at the Cross for large ensemble. At present, Stephen is a postgraduate at the RNCM, where he is continuing his studies in composition and piano – with Charles Bodman Rae and Martin Roscoe respectively. He holds the Postgraduate Diploma and Mmus in Performance and Composition, and has performed with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and New Ensemble in a range of contemporary music, not least his own work. In 1998, he played in the UK premiere of Henze's Symphony No 6, – given to national critical acclaim as part of the RNCM Henze festival – and in the following year performed Boulez's Douze Notations at the third international 'Glories of the Keyboard.' festival. Stephen has participated in masterclasses with Christopher Elton, Bernard Roberts and Arnaldo Cohen, and is the recipient of RNCM scholarships for composition and piano. Back to shortlist.