Alexander Rudd
Encyclopedia
Alexander Rudd is an award-winning composer, songwriter and conductor working in film, television, theatre and the concert hall.
At the age of 16, Rudd won the National Young Composer of the Year Award. He is a Fulbright Scholar and studied at Trinity College of Music
and the University of Southern California
.
In 2009, Rudd received a UK Film Council
Award, enabling him to work and study in Los Angeles. His mentor is American composer and songwriter Randy Newman
.
, Preston – although he also spent two years at Stonyhurst College
, a Jesuit Catholic boarding school in the north of England.
From the age of sixteen he worked as a pianist and singer entertainer in bars and clubs working all over the UK. He studied composition at Trinity College of Music
with Alwynne Pritchard
who introduced him to the works of contemporary composers such as Xenakis
, Ligeti
, Schoenberg
and Messiaen. In the evenings he worked as the resident Jazz singer and pianist at The Dorchester, Claridges and The Savoy in London. He also taught the piano and worked as a Musical Director at James Allen Girls School in Dulwich. During this time he met composer Howard Blake
who encouraged him to pursue a career as a film composer.
, The Old Vic, The Barbican
, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Sheffield Theatres
, Liverpool Everyman
, West Yorkshire Playhouse
, Watford Palace Theatre
, Greenwich Theatre
and Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre
. Rudd was a founder member of Wild Oats, a theatre company whose aim is to 'present exciting new theatrical works to British audiences'. He writes musicals and wrote ‘Force 9 & ½’ with John Nicholson (Peepolycus). This won a Musical Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Festival
. Rudd regularly collaborates with writer and lyricist, Jenifer Toksvig. Together they have written three musicals, including ‘The Stone’s Are Hatching’, which is an adaptation of the book by Geraldine McCaughrean
and ‘The Queen of Snow', which was commissioned by the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
, Guildford. Rudd has been a great supporter of Youth Music Theatre: UK
and has received several commissions from them. He collaborated with Hoipolloi
on their production of The Doubtful Guest inspired by the book of the same name by Edward Gorey
. He is very active as a film composer and is credited as composer on the Warner Brothers movie, ‘Unknown’ starring Liam Neeson
. In 2010, Rudd worked on the final season of Michael Giacchino's score for the hit television series "Lost
". He composed and conducted the score for the award-winning short, 'Thule' directed by Robert Scott Wildes.
Selected Concert Works:
commissioned by Institut Européen de Chant Choral, premiered at the Grand Ducal Institute
in Luxembourg, 2007
Commissioned by Verin Exil in Vienna celebrating the work of Austrian beat poet, Ruth Weiss
, 2006
commissioned by the Virtuosi della Fenice, premiered at Teatro La Fenice, Venice. 2006
for symphony orchestra and tape, premiered at Blackheath Halls, London, 2005.
At the age of 16, Rudd won the National Young Composer of the Year Award. He is a Fulbright Scholar and studied at Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
and the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
In 2009, Rudd received a UK Film Council
UK Film Council
The UK Film Council was set up in 2000 by the Labour Government as a non-departmental public body to develop and promote the film industry in the UK. It was constituted as a private company limited by guarantee governed by a board of 15 directors and was funded through sources including the...
Award, enabling him to work and study in Los Angeles. His mentor is American composer and songwriter Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
.
Early life
He was a student at Our Lady’s High School, FulwoodFulwood, Lancashire
Fulwood is an unparished area of the City of Preston, Lancashire, England, about north of the city centre. It had a population of 33,171 in 2001.- Economy and society :Fulwood remains a distinctive division of Preston...
, Preston – although he also spent two years at Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
, a Jesuit Catholic boarding school in the north of England.
From the age of sixteen he worked as a pianist and singer entertainer in bars and clubs working all over the UK. He studied composition at Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
with Alwynne Pritchard
Alwynne Pritchard
Alwynne Pritchard is a British composer and broadcaster, and is currently the Festival Director of Borealis Contemporary Music Festival.-Biography:...
who introduced him to the works of contemporary composers such as Xenakis
Xenakis
-People:* Constantin Xenakis , Greek artist* Francoise Xenakis , French novelist* Iannis Xenakis , Greek composer and architect* Thomas Xenakis , Greek gymnast- Other uses :...
, Ligeti
Ligeti
Ligeti is a Hungarian surname. Notable persons with the surname include:* András Ligeti , Hungarian violinist and conductor* Eva Ligeti, Canadian lawyer and the first Environmental Commissioner of Ontario...
, Schoenberg
Schoenberg
Schoenberg is the surname of several persons:* Arnold Schoenberg , Austrian-American composer* Claude-Michel Schoenberg , French record producer, actor, singer, popular songwriter, and musical theatre composer...
and Messiaen. In the evenings he worked as the resident Jazz singer and pianist at The Dorchester, Claridges and The Savoy in London. He also taught the piano and worked as a Musical Director at James Allen Girls School in Dulwich. During this time he met composer Howard Blake
Howard Blake
Howard Blake, OBE is an English composer , particularly noted for his film scores, although he is prolific in several fields of classical and light music...
who encouraged him to pursue a career as a film composer.
Music career
Rudd works across many different styles and genres. His career started in the theatre and he has composed the scores for numerous plays, including collaborations with the Royal National TheatreRoyal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, The Old Vic, The Barbican
The Barbican
Barbican is a type of fortified building.Barbican may also refer to:*Willoughby House, also known as the Barbican, London* Barbican , a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe* Barbican , a thoroughbred horse...
, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Sheffield Theatres
Sheffield Theatres
Sheffield Theatres is a theatre complex in Sheffield, South Yorkshire comprising three theatres: the Crucible, the Lyceum and the Crucible Studio...
, Liverpool Everyman
Everyman Theatre
The Everyman Theatre stands at the north end of Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Established in 1964 in a former cinema, it encouraged local talent and played a part in the development of new artistes and writers. The theatre was rebuilt between 1975 and 1977, and was closed again for...
, West Yorkshire Playhouse
West Yorkshire Playhouse
The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, England is a theatre which opened in March 1990 as part of the regeneration of the Quarry Hill area of the city...
, Watford Palace Theatre
Watford Palace Theatre
Watford Palace Theatre, opened in 1908, is an Edwardian Grade II listed building on Clarendon Road, Watford.- Refurbishment :In September 2004 the theatre re-opened after a two year £8.8million Lottery funded refurbishment, which included more public space, two bars, a daytime café, air cooling and...
, Greenwich Theatre
Greenwich Theatre
The Greenwich Theatre is a local theatre located in Croom's Hill close to the centre of Greenwich in south-east London.-Building history:The building was originally a music hall created in 1855 as part of the neighbouring Rose and Crown public house, but the Rose and Crown Music Hall was...
and Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre
Traverse Theatre
The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963.The Traverse Theatre commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary playwrights. It also presents a large number of productions from visiting companies from across the UK. These include new plays,...
. Rudd was a founder member of Wild Oats, a theatre company whose aim is to 'present exciting new theatrical works to British audiences'. He writes musicals and wrote ‘Force 9 & ½’ with John Nicholson (Peepolycus). This won a Musical Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
. Rudd regularly collaborates with writer and lyricist, Jenifer Toksvig. Together they have written three musicals, including ‘The Stone’s Are Hatching’, which is an adaptation of the book by Geraldine McCaughrean
Geraldine McCaughrean
Geraldine McCaughrean is a British children's novelist.The youngest of three children, McCaughrean studied teaching but did not like it, and found her true vocation in writing. She claims that what makes her love writing is the desire to escape from an unsatisfactory world...
and ‘The Queen of Snow', which was commissioned by the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey presents in-house productions which often tour and transfer to London's West End. Other performances include opera, ballet and pantomime. Named after the actress Yvonne Arnaud, the company has two performance venues, a main theatre and the smaller Mill...
, Guildford. Rudd has been a great supporter of Youth Music Theatre: UK
Youth Music Theatre: UK
Youth Music Theatre UK is the United Kingdom's biggest provider of music theatre projects for young people. It is one of nine recognised National Youth Music Organisations ....
and has received several commissions from them. He collaborated with Hoipolloi
Hoipolloi
Hoipolloi are a British touring theatre company committed to creating new work for theatre that imaginatively engages their audience and makes them laugh...
on their production of The Doubtful Guest inspired by the book of the same name by Edward Gorey
Edward Gorey
Edward St. John Gorey was an American writer and artist noted for his macabre illustrated books.-Early life:...
. He is very active as a film composer and is credited as composer on the Warner Brothers movie, ‘Unknown’ starring Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson
Liam John Neeson, OBE is an Irish actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards.He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les...
. In 2010, Rudd worked on the final season of Michael Giacchino's score for the hit television series "Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
". He composed and conducted the score for the award-winning short, 'Thule' directed by Robert Scott Wildes.
Concert Music
In 2005, Rudd was the featured British composer in the International Artists Workshop organized by the European Union. His concert works have since been performed in Europe, UK and the US.Selected Concert Works:
- Amor Volat Undique
commissioned by Institut Européen de Chant Choral, premiered at the Grand Ducal Institute
Grand Ducal Institute
Grand Ducal Institute is the national academy of Luxembourg, and is based in Luxembourg City in the south of the country.The Institute incorporates six subsections, each dedicated to a separate field of academic research:...
in Luxembourg, 2007
- Her Number Was Not Called
Commissioned by Verin Exil in Vienna celebrating the work of Austrian beat poet, Ruth Weiss
Ruth weiss
ruth weiss is a German-born poet, performer, playwright and artist who made her home and career in the United States. weiss is an artist of the Beat Generation, a label she has recently embraced and that is used frequently by historians detailing her life and works.weiss spells her name in...
, 2006
- Resolution
commissioned by the Virtuosi della Fenice, premiered at Teatro La Fenice, Venice. 2006
- Furore
for symphony orchestra and tape, premiered at Blackheath Halls, London, 2005.
External links
- Alexander Rudd's Official Website
- Alexander Rudd at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Fulbright Alumni