Andrew Skeet (musician)
Encyclopedia
Andrew John Skeet is a British musician, composer and music producer. He has written scores for television and film and worked with many well-known composers and artists as an arranger, orchestrator and conductor.
in Croydon where, as a boy singer, he appeared on soundtracks such as Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Barbara Streisand's Yentl
and Another Country
starring Rupert Everett as Guy Bennett and Colin Firth as Tommy Judd. Skeet then studied music at The University of East Anglia and at The Royal College of Music in London.
Skeet has scored the upcoming feature-length documentary from Optimistic Productions directed by Daniel Edelstyn How To Re-establish A Vodka Empire and is currently in production working with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on a concert and album of music from hit video games.
's The Divine Comedy
and has worked as an arranger and orchestrator for artists such as George Michael
, Sinéad O'Connor
, Suede
& James Lavelle's UNKLE
. With Neil Hannon he has toured regularly as MD and keyboard player of The Divine Comedy following the departure of Joby Talbot
and has appeared on two albums as arranger and conductor; Hannon's ninth album Victory for the Comic Muse, released in June 2006, and 2010's Bang Goes the Knighthood.
In November 2010 Skeet collaborated with Grammy-award winning artist Imogen Heap
on an orchestral score played live to picture called Love The Earth which was premiered at the Albert Hall and also they worked together on a choral commission for the Bird’s Eye Festival at the BFI - an a cappella choral score to the first ever surrealist film The Seashell and the Clergyman (Germaine Dulac, 1927) with the Holst Singers.
Skeet regularly works with TV and film composer Daniel Pemberton
as orchestrator and conductor on Desperate Romantics, Occupation, Hiroshima, Monster Moves, Money and the 2010 revival of Upstairs Downstairs.
He has worked with Welsh electronic music group Hybrid contributing orchestral and string arrangements to Morning Sci-fi and Disappear Here.
Skeet has worked as an orchestrator on several feature films including Ridley Scott's Robin Hood
, Garth Jennings' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
, Basil Dearden's The League of Gentlemen
and as lead orchestrator and conductor on Nick Murphy's forthcoming feature The Awakening starring Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton.
Biography
Andrew Skeet attended Trinity Boys SchoolTrinity School of John Whitgift
The Trinity School of John Whitgift, usually referred to as Trinity School, is a British independent boys' day school with a co-educational Sixth Form, located in Shirley Park, Croydon. The current building was constructed in 1965 on the site of the former Shirley Hotel...
in Croydon where, as a boy singer, he appeared on soundtracks such as Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Barbara Streisand's Yentl
Yentl
Yentl is a play by Leah Napolin and Isaac Bashevis Singer.Based on Singer's short story "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy," it centers on a young girl who defies tradition by discussing and debating Jewish law and theology with her rabbi father...
and Another Country
Another Country
Another Country may refer to:* Another Country , by James Baldwin* Another Country , by Julian Mitchell* Another Country , an adaptation of the play* Another Country...
starring Rupert Everett as Guy Bennett and Colin Firth as Tommy Judd. Skeet then studied music at The University of East Anglia and at The Royal College of Music in London.
Television and film Commission
With former Howie B collaborator Luke Gordon, Skeet established the production company Roxbury Music and their music has been used extensively on British television. Programmes which have featured music by Roxbury include The Apprentice, Dispatches, Banged Up Abroad, Britain's Lost World, Freaky Eaters, What Katy Did Next, Gumball's 3000 Miles, Kali, a collaboration with Mike Figgis for the London Film Festival and Locked Up Abroad. Their music has been heard all over the world with tracks released on a series of library albums for Universal on The Atmosphere label, Chappell and Bruton.Skeet has scored the upcoming feature-length documentary from Optimistic Productions directed by Daniel Edelstyn How To Re-establish A Vodka Empire and is currently in production working with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on a concert and album of music from hit video games.
Collaborations
Skeet is a sometime member of Neil HannonNeil Hannon
Neil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
's The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
and has worked as an arranger and orchestrator for artists such as George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
, Suede
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
& James Lavelle's UNKLE
UNKLE
Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
. With Neil Hannon he has toured regularly as MD and keyboard player of The Divine Comedy following the departure of Joby Talbot
Joby Talbot
Joby Talbot is a British composer.Born in Wimbledon, London, Talbot studied composition at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Brian Elias and Simon Bainbridge....
and has appeared on two albums as arranger and conductor; Hannon's ninth album Victory for the Comic Muse, released in June 2006, and 2010's Bang Goes the Knighthood.
In November 2010 Skeet collaborated with Grammy-award winning artist Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
on an orchestral score played live to picture called Love The Earth which was premiered at the Albert Hall and also they worked together on a choral commission for the Bird’s Eye Festival at the BFI - an a cappella choral score to the first ever surrealist film The Seashell and the Clergyman (Germaine Dulac, 1927) with the Holst Singers.
Skeet regularly works with TV and film composer Daniel Pemberton
Daniel Pemberton
Daniel Pemberton is an Ivor Novello winning and multi BAFTA-nominated English composer.He has composed title tunes and incidental music for countless award winning television series including Peep Show, Desperate Romantics, Occupation, Suburban Shootout, Hell's Kitchen, Great British Menu,...
as orchestrator and conductor on Desperate Romantics, Occupation, Hiroshima, Monster Moves, Money and the 2010 revival of Upstairs Downstairs.
He has worked with Welsh electronic music group Hybrid contributing orchestral and string arrangements to Morning Sci-fi and Disappear Here.
Skeet has worked as an orchestrator on several feature films including Ridley Scott's Robin Hood
Robin Hood (2010 film)
Robin Hood is a 2010 British/American adventure film based on the Robin Hood legend, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett...
, Garth Jennings' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a 2005 comic science fiction film based on the book of the same name by Douglas Adams. Shooting was completed in August 2004 and the movie was released on April 28, 2005 in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and on the following day in Canada and the United...
, Basil Dearden's The League of Gentlemen
The League of Gentlemen (film)
The League of Gentlemen is a 1960 British crime film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick and Richard Attenborough. It was based on the 1958 novel by John Boland and adapted by Bryan Forbes, who also starred in the film...
and as lead orchestrator and conductor on Nick Murphy's forthcoming feature The Awakening starring Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton.