Anna Meredith
Encyclopedia
Anna Meredith is a composer of acoustic and electronic work, musician and music educator. She is the eldest of three children in her family. Her father is a retired university teacher of journalism, and her mother works in picture restoration. Her sister is the video artist Eleanor Meredith.
Meredith learned clarinet and percussion in school, and later took up composition. She initially studied at Napier University
, and earned a degree in music from the University of York
. She later attended the Royal College of Music
, where her teachers included David Sawer
and Timothy Salter. As an educator, Meredith has taught drum-kit and composition at Lady Margaret School
and teaches composition with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. She is a co-founder of the Camberwell Composers' Collective.
One of Meredith's earliest concert hall commissions was torque, written on commission for the BBC Philharmonic
and premiered at the Huddersfield Festival in 2002. In 2004, she was named resident composer with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
(BBC SSO), and held the post until 2007. For the BBC SSO, her compositions include Casting (2006) and Barchan For The Proms
, she composed froms for the 2008 Last Night of the Proms, and the two-piano work Left Light, premiered in 2009.
She has been a guest on BBC Radio 3
and BBC Radio 4
as well as a judge and commentator on the BBC Young Musician of the Year
. In 2009 Anna tutored Goldie
on his prom commission as part of the documentary Classic Goldie
.
Meredith has written axeman and flak for the London Sinfonietta
. Her other compositions include the opera Tarantula in Petrol Blue (2009) - libretto by Philip Ridley
. The premiere run was directed by Bijan Sheibani
. . Meredith has also collaborated with the beatboxer Shlomo to create a concerto for beatboxer. In December 2009, Meredith was named the first 'Composer in the House' of Sinfonia ViVA
, and formally began in the post in January 2010. Her residency with Sinfonia ViVA is scheduled to continue into 2012. Her most recent piece for Sinfonia ViVA "Four Tributes to 4am" was conducted by André de Ridder with visuals by Eleanor Meredith and featured visuals and electronics taken from a 6pm-6am walk the sisters did around Derby in the winter of 2010.
In December 2010, it was announced that Meredith had been selected as one of twenty composers to participate in the New Music 20x12 project as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Meredith will compose a new work for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain to be premiered in 2012.
She has performed her electronica
compositions as support to These New Puritans
and alongside Seb Rochford
and James Blake (musician)
at the Southbank Centre.
Meredith learned clarinet and percussion in school, and later took up composition. She initially studied at Napier University
Napier University
Edinburgh Napier is one of the largest higher education institutions in Scotland with over 17,000 students, including nearly 5,000 international students, from more than 100 nations worldwide.-History:...
, and earned a degree in music from the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
. She later attended the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, where her teachers included David Sawer
David Sawer
David Sawer is a British composer of opera and choral, orchestral and chamber music.-Biography:Sawer was born in Stockport, England. He studied music at the University of York where he began composing for contemporary music-theatre pieces. He continued his studies with Mauricio Kagel in Cologne...
and Timothy Salter. As an educator, Meredith has taught drum-kit and composition at Lady Margaret School
Lady Margaret School
Lady Margaret School is a smaller than average all-girls' Voluntary Aided Church of England secondary school in Parsons Green, Fulham, London. It was awarded specialist school status as a Mathematics & Computing College in September 2003.-History:...
and teaches composition with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. She is a co-founder of the Camberwell Composers' Collective.
One of Meredith's earliest concert hall commissions was torque, written on commission for the BBC Philharmonic
BBC Philharmonic
The BBC Philharmonic is a British broadcasting symphony orchestra based at Media City UK, Salford, England. It is one of five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The orchestra's primary concert venue is the Bridgewater Hall....
and premiered at the Huddersfield Festival in 2002. In 2004, she was named resident composer with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is a broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation , it is the oldest full-time professional orchestra in Scotland...
(BBC SSO), and held the post until 2007. For the BBC SSO, her compositions include Casting (2006) and Barchan For The Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
, she composed froms for the 2008 Last Night of the Proms, and the two-piano work Left Light, premiered in 2009.
She has been a guest on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
and BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
as well as a judge and commentator on the BBC Young Musician of the Year
BBC Young Musician of the Year
The BBC Young Musician of the Year is a televised national music competition. It is broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Four biennially, despite the name, and hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
. In 2009 Anna tutored Goldie
Goldie
Clifford Joseph Price, better known as Goldie is an English electronic music artist, disc jockey, visual artist and actor. He is well known for his innovations in the jungle and drum and bass music genres, having previously gained exposure for his work as a graffiti artist...
on his prom commission as part of the documentary Classic Goldie
Classic Goldie
Classic Goldie was a British two part documentary directed by Toby Macdonald shown on BBC Two in Summer 2009.- Background :The show was based around the Drum and Bass musician Goldie learning how to create a piece of classical music. Goldie was a competitor on the BBC television conducting series...
.
Meredith has written axeman and flak for the London Sinfonietta
London Sinfonietta
The London Sinfonietta is an English chamber orchestra founded in 1968 and based in London. The ensemble specialises in contemporary music and works across a wide range of genres, performing modern classics alongside world premieres, and includes music by electronica artists as well as folk and...
. Her other compositions include the opera Tarantula in Petrol Blue (2009) - libretto by Philip Ridley
Philip Ridley
Philip Ridley is a British artist working with various media.- Biography :Ridley was born in Bethnal Green, in the East End of London, where he still lives and works. He studied painting at St. Martin’s School of Art and his work has been exhibited throughout Europe and Japan...
. The premiere run was directed by Bijan Sheibani
Bijan Sheibani
Bijan Sheibani is a British-Iranian theatre director. He is Artistic Director of ATC Theatre.His production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s The Brothers Size was greeted with universal acclaim and was variously described by UK critics as “Psychologically subtle and emotionally powerful“ , “faultless” ...
. . Meredith has also collaborated with the beatboxer Shlomo to create a concerto for beatboxer. In December 2009, Meredith was named the first 'Composer in the House' of Sinfonia ViVA
Sinfonia ViVA
Sinfonia ViVA is a British orchestra based in Derby, United Kingdom, a professional orchestra in the East Midlands. Sinfonia ViVA gives concerts in a number of cities and venues, including the following:* Cleethorpes * Derby...
, and formally began in the post in January 2010. Her residency with Sinfonia ViVA is scheduled to continue into 2012. Her most recent piece for Sinfonia ViVA "Four Tributes to 4am" was conducted by André de Ridder with visuals by Eleanor Meredith and featured visuals and electronics taken from a 6pm-6am walk the sisters did around Derby in the winter of 2010.
In December 2010, it was announced that Meredith had been selected as one of twenty composers to participate in the New Music 20x12 project as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Meredith will compose a new work for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain to be premiered in 2012.
She has performed her electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
compositions as support to These New Puritans
These New Puritans
These New Puritans are a British Art Rock band from the Southend-on-Sea area. The group consists of Jack Barnett , his twin brother George Barnett , Thomas Hein , and Sophie Sleigh-Johnson...
and alongside Seb Rochford
Seb Rochford
Sebastian "Seb" Rochford is a British drummer who spans many musical genres.He comes from Aberdeen and has a large family of 2 brothers and 7 sisters...
and James Blake (musician)
James Blake (musician)
James Blake is a British electronic music producer and singer-songwriter from London, UK. On 6 January 2011, Blake was announced as runner-up in BBC's Sound of 2011 poll...
at the Southbank Centre.