James Whitbourn

James Whitbourn (born 17 August, 1963, Kent, UK) is a British composer and conductor.

Biography

James Whitbourn was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was a choral scholar. Now established as a composer for concert hall and screen, he began his career as a programme maker at the BBC, producing many award-winning programmes. His close association with the BBC Philharmonic resulted in three large-scale commissions for voices and orchestra. His "Son of God Mass" has had many performances worldwide, especially in the USA and Europe. Television credits include music for the BBC’s coverage of the Queen Mother’s funeral, and major BBC series ´Son of God´. In 2005, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under Leonard Slatkin, premiered his oratorio "Annelies", based on the Diary of Anne Frank, at London's Cadogan Hall to wide critical acclaim. He has written a number of works for the British tenor Robert Tear, with whom he has also collaborated as librettist, including a festal setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for King's College Cambridge and a cantata for the St Endellion Festival. Other vocal works include a set of songs commissioned by the BBC for the mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins. From 2006-2008 his compositions have been performed annually in concerts devoted to his music at Westminster Choir College, Rider University, New Jersey.

Career highlights

* 2000 - winner of Sandford St Martin Premier Award (with poet Michael Symmons Roberts).
* 2001 - "A Finer Truth" – debut album of choral works – released by Et’cetera.
* 2001 - orchestral score of multi award-winning BBC1 series "Son of God".
* 2002 - "Living Voices" premiered in New York concert on the first anniversary of 9/11.
* 2004 - set prayer by Desmond Tutu for the Commonwealth Observance, Westminster Abbey.
* 2005 - movements from "Annelies" performed at the National Holocaust Commemoration, Palace of Westminster.
* 2005 - World premiere of "Annelies" given in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin.
* 2007 - U. S. premiere of a new orchestration for "Annelies" by Westminster Choir College's Williamson Voices under the direction of James Jordan (conductor).
* 2008 - Premiere of "Luminosity" in Philadelphia Cathedral, U.S. with Daniel Stewart (viola), Westminster Williamson Voice's and Schola Cantorum and Blair Academy Singers under James Jordan with Archedream Dance Theater.

Key works

* "Pika" (2000; tenor, speaker, orchestra)
* "Son of God Mass" (2000; choir, saxophone, organ)
* "The Wounds" (2001; soprano, speaker, strings)
* "Whirlwind" (2002; tenor, speaker, choir, orchestra)
* "Annelies" (2004; soprano, choir, orchestra) (2006; soprano, choir, violin, cello, piano and clarinet)
* "Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis" (Collegium Regale) (2005; tenor, choir, organ)
* "Luminosity" (2007; Choirs, viola, tam-tam, organ, tanpura)

External links

- - * [http://www.schirmer.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&composerId_2872=1712 James Whitbourn's homepage at G Schirmer Inc]

-- * [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2431&State_2905=2&composerId_2905=1712 James Whitbourn's homepage at Chester Music] - - * [http://www.encorepublications.com Encore publications home page] - - * [http://www.rider.edu/888_13273.htm Rider University composer podcast]

-- * [http://www.wwfm.org/webcasts_cadenza.shtml WWFM composer webcast]