Ilona Sekacz
Encyclopedia
Ilona Sekacz is a British composer
of concert, film, television and theatre music.
, initially studying music but then changing to drama and theatre (Fuller 2006).
Sekcaz started her career making music for the theatre, spending three years with the Unicorn Theatre
in London, for whom she composed musique concrète
scores. She then worked for the Shared Experience
company, and in 1982 composed music for the Royal Shakespeare Company
's production of King Lear
. Subsequently she worked extensively with that company as a freelance composer, writing music for plays by Shakespere as well as by other authors (Fuller 2006). Se also has composed music for the National Theatre in London. She scored a number of television projects in the 1980s, including Alan Bleasdale
's Boys from the Blackstuff
(1982) and the 1992 series of Maigret
(Fuller 2006). In 1986 she was nominated for best original TV music in the BAFTA Awards for "The Insurance Man".
In 1989 she composed an opera, A Small Green Space, to a libretto by Fay Weldon
. Employing a mixture of amateur and professional performers, this opera was taken on tour throughout England by the English National Opera
(Fuller 2006). Her instrumental works include orchestral and chamber music, as well as choral music composed mainly in aid of conservation and wildlife causes (Fuller 2006).
She made her first feature film score in 1994, with "A Pin for the Butterfly
" by Hannah Kodicek. A year later, she composed the score for the Dutch film "Antonia's Line", which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1997. Since than she has scored many television and film productions, concentrating on the theatre in the last couple of years.
She won the prize for best score for the film "Le Cadeau d’Elena " in the St Malo Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar Award for Best Foreign Language Film with "Solomon and Gaenor". In 2009 she co-produced and conducted a children’s opera called Brundibar, performed to commemorate the Holocaust.
In 2010 she wrote the music for the play "Onassis" portraying the life of the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of concert, film, television and theatre music.
About
Sekacz was born to a Polish mother and an English father. She studied violin and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Later she enrolled at the University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, initially studying music but then changing to drama and theatre (Fuller 2006).
Sekcaz started her career making music for the theatre, spending three years with the Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
The Unicorn Theatre is a producer of professional theatre for children in Britain. It is based in a RIBA Award–winning centre in Tooley Street, in the London Borough of Southwark, opened in 2005...
in London, for whom she composed musique concrète
Musique concrète
Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...
scores. She then worked for the Shared Experience
Shared Experience
Shared Experience is a British theatre company. Its current joint artistic directors are Nancy Meckler and Polly Teale. Kate Saxon is an Associate Director.-Productions:*A Passage to India *Madame Bovary...
company, and in 1982 composed music for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
's production of King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
. Subsequently she worked extensively with that company as a freelance composer, writing music for plays by Shakespere as well as by other authors (Fuller 2006). Se also has composed music for the National Theatre in London. She scored a number of television projects in the 1980s, including Alan Bleasdale
Alan Bleasdale
Alan Bleasdale is an English television dramatist, best known for writing several social realist drama serials based on the lives of ordinary people.The Bleasdales live in prescot,liverpool,wales and london.-Early life:Bleasdale is an only child; his father worked in a food factory and his mother...
's Boys from the Blackstuff
Boys from the Blackstuff
Boys from the Blackstuff is a British television drama series of five episodes, originally transmitted from 10 October to 7 November 1982 on BBC2....
(1982) and the 1992 series of Maigret
Maigret (1992 TV series)
Maigret was a British television series that ran on ITV for twelve episodes between 1992 and 1993. It was an adaptation of the books by Georges Simenon featuring his fictional French detective Jules Maigret...
(Fuller 2006). In 1986 she was nominated for best original TV music in the BAFTA Awards for "The Insurance Man".
In 1989 she composed an opera, A Small Green Space, to a libretto by Fay Weldon
Fay Weldon
Fay Weldon CBE is an English author, essayist and playwright, whose work has been associated with feminism. In her fiction, Weldon typically portrays contemporary women who find themselves trapped in oppressive situations caused by the patriarchal structure of British society.-Biography:Weldon was...
. Employing a mixture of amateur and professional performers, this opera was taken on tour throughout England by the English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
(Fuller 2006). Her instrumental works include orchestral and chamber music, as well as choral music composed mainly in aid of conservation and wildlife causes (Fuller 2006).
She made her first feature film score in 1994, with "A Pin for the Butterfly
A Pin for the Butterfly
A Pin for the Butterfly is a 1994 British-Czech drama film directed by Hannah Kodichek and starring Ian Bannen, Hugh Laurie and Florence Hoath. A young girl tries to come terms with growing up in Stalinist Czechoslovakia. It was screened at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Ian Bannen ... ...
" by Hannah Kodicek. A year later, she composed the score for the Dutch film "Antonia's Line", which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1997. Since than she has scored many television and film productions, concentrating on the theatre in the last couple of years.
She won the prize for best score for the film "Le Cadeau d’Elena " in the St Malo Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar Award for Best Foreign Language Film with "Solomon and Gaenor". In 2009 she co-produced and conducted a children’s opera called Brundibar, performed to commemorate the Holocaust.
In 2010 she wrote the music for the play "Onassis" portraying the life of the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Sokratis Onassis , commonly called Ari or Aristo Onassis, was a prominent Greek shipping magnate.- Early life :Onassis was born in Karatass, a suburb of Smyrna to Socrates and Penelope Onassis...
.
Filmography
- Le Cadeau d’Elena (2004)
- Wondrous Oblivion (2003)
- Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
- Dalziel and PascoeDalziel and Pascoe (BBC TV series)Dalziel and Pascoe is a popular British television crime drama based on the Dalziel and Pascoe books by Reginald Hill, which was first broadcast in March 1996. It is set in Yorkshire, and is about two detectives...
(television series): "For Love Nor Money" (2002) - Dalziel and Pascoe: "Secrets of the Dead" (2001)
- Station Jim (2000)
- It Can Be Done (1999)
- Solomon and Gaenor (1999)
- A Certain Justice (1998)
- Mortimer's Law (1998)
- Mrs. Dalloway (1997)
- Under the Skin (1997)
- Wokenwell (TV series, 1997)
- Antonia's Line (1995)
- Henry IV (TV play, 1995)
- A Pin for the Butterfly (1994)
- Love On a Branch Line (TV miniseries, 1993)
- Fighting for Gemma (1993)
- Common Pursuit (1992)
- The Countess Alice (1992)
- Back Home (TV film, 1990)
- Can You Hear Me Thinking? (TV film, 1990)
- The Lilac Bus (TV film, 1990)
- Knuckle (TV film, 1989)
- Dead Lucky (TV film, 1988)
- Intimate Contact (TV film, 1987)
- Imaginary Friends (TV miniseries, 1987)
- Final Run (TV film, 1987)
- Northanger Abbey (TV film, 1987)
- The Importance of Being Earnest (TV film, 1986)
- Dutch Girls (TV film, 1985)
- Freud (6-part TV miniseries, 1984)
- Across the Water (TV film, 1983)
- Boys from the BlackstuffBoys from the BlackstuffBoys from the Blackstuff is a British television drama series of five episodes, originally transmitted from 10 October to 7 November 1982 on BBC2....
(TV miniseries, 1982) - Not for the Likes of Us (TV play, 1980)
- Buses (TV play, 1980)