Luke Bedford
Encyclopedia
Luke Bedford is a British composer.
He was educated at St Crispin's School
in Wokingham. He studied composition with Edwin Roxburgh
and Simon Bainbridge
at the Royal College of Music
, and won the Mendelssohn Scholarship
in 2000. This was followed by post-graduate study with Simon Bainbridge at the Royal Academy of Music
. In 2007 Bedford signed to Universal Edition London.
Awards include the 2000 Royal Philharmonic Society
Composition Prize for composers under 29 and the 2004 BBC Radio 3
Listeners' Award at the British Composer Awards. In 2007, Bedford became the first compositional recipient of a Paul Hamlyn Artists' Award since David Sawer
in 1993. 2007 also saw him receive a nomination for the Royal Philharmonic Society
large-scale composition prize, for his song cycle Or Voit Tout En Aventure. In 2008, Bedford received his second British Composer Award for his 2007 orchestral work Wreathe.
On the 24th January 2008, director of the Wigmore Hall
John Gilhooly announced Bedford as the venue's first ever Composer-in-Residence. “Luke Bedford is an important young voice and a distinctive musical force, and we are very pleased that he has accepted our invitation to become our Composer-in-Residence from 2009. The position will involve composition as well as working with the Hall’s Community & Education programme.”
Luke is married to Katie (née Fox), and currently resides in Berlin.
Catafalque (2002) for large ensemble
Catafalque (2002) for piano
Chiaroscuro (2002/2005) for violin, violoncello and piano
Man Shoots Strangers from Skyscraper (2002) for 8 players
Rode with Darkness (2003) for orchestra
Slow Music (2005) for 8 players
Or Voit Tout En Aventure (2006) for soprano and 16 players
Outblaze the Sky (2007) for orchestra
Wreathe (2007) for orchestra
Good Dream She Has (2007) for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and chamber ensemble
On Time (2008) for choir and orchestra
Upon St. George's Hill (2008) for tenor and guitar
By the Screen in the Sun at the Hill on the Gold (2008) for 18 players
Of the Air (2008/2009) for string quartet
Self-Assembly Composition No. 1 (2009) for any instruments
Great Bass Rackett (2009) for solo bassoon
Più Mosso (2009) for large orchestra
He was educated at St Crispin's School
St Crispin's School
St Crispin's School, founded in 1953, is a co-educational comprehensive school in Wokingham, Berkshire, England, catering for pupils between 11 and 18 years of age. There were 1,130 students at the school in 2011, of whom 190 were in the Sixth Form...
in Wokingham. He studied composition with Edwin Roxburgh
Edwin Roxburgh
Edwin Roxburgh is an English composer, conductor and oboist.After playing oboe in the National Youth Orchestra, he won a double scholarship to study composition with Herbert Howells and oboe with Terence MacDonagh at the Royal College of Music. He also studied composition with Nadia Boulanger in...
and Simon Bainbridge
Simon Bainbridge
Simon Bainbridge is a British composer, and a professor and former head of composition at the Royal Academy of Music, London, and visiting professor at the University of Louisville, Kentucky in the United States.-Biography:...
at 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...
, and won the Mendelssohn Scholarship
Mendelssohn Scholarship
The Mendelssohn Scholarship refers to two scholarships awarded in Germany and in the United Kingdom. Both commemorate the composer, Felix Mendelssohn, and are awarded to promising young musicians to enable them to continue their development.-History:...
in 2000. This was followed by post-graduate study with Simon Bainbridge at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
. In 2007 Bedford signed to Universal Edition London.
Awards include the 2000 Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
Composition Prize for composers under 29 and the 2004 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...
Listeners' Award at the British Composer Awards. In 2007, Bedford became the first compositional recipient of a Paul Hamlyn Artists' Award since 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...
in 1993. 2007 also saw him receive a nomination for the Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
large-scale composition prize, for his song cycle Or Voit Tout En Aventure. In 2008, Bedford received his second British Composer Award for his 2007 orchestral work Wreathe.
On the 24th January 2008, director of the Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
John Gilhooly announced Bedford as the venue's first ever Composer-in-Residence. “Luke Bedford is an important young voice and a distinctive musical force, and we are very pleased that he has accepted our invitation to become our Composer-in-Residence from 2009. The position will involve composition as well as working with the Hall’s Community & Education programme.”
Luke is married to Katie (née Fox), and currently resides in Berlin.
Works
Five Abstracts (2000-2001) for 14 playersCatafalque (2002) for large ensemble
Catafalque (2002) for piano
Chiaroscuro (2002/2005) for violin, violoncello and piano
Man Shoots Strangers from Skyscraper (2002) for 8 players
Rode with Darkness (2003) for orchestra
Slow Music (2005) for 8 players
Or Voit Tout En Aventure (2006) for soprano and 16 players
Outblaze the Sky (2007) for orchestra
Wreathe (2007) for orchestra
Good Dream She Has (2007) for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and chamber ensemble
On Time (2008) for choir and orchestra
Upon St. George's Hill (2008) for tenor and guitar
By the Screen in the Sun at the Hill on the Gold (2008) for 18 players
Of the Air (2008/2009) for string quartet
Self-Assembly Composition No. 1 (2009) for any instruments
Great Bass Rackett (2009) for solo bassoon
Più Mosso (2009) for large orchestra