- About -
David Loxley-Blount [b.1989] is an award-winning British composer based in London, UK. Besides performances in many churches and Cathedrals his work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, performed at the Palace of Westminster and sung under the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. Recent performances outside the UK have taken place in Switzerland, Denmark and the USA. Since winning the Composition Prize at St Albans International Organ Festival / Choir & Organ Composition Competition in 2013 he has become known best for his organ music. His instrumental music has been performed by professional ensembles including the Allegri String Quartet and the London Firebird Orchestra. His choral music has been sung by choirs including Rochester Cathedral Choir, The Choir of St Bride's Fleet Street and St Salvator's Chapel Choir, University of St Andrews. He was the inaugural recipient of The Eric Thompson Charitable Trust's Annual Award (2015/16) for a significant project associated with organ study, performance, composing, recording or research. His application was regarded by the Trustees as 'the most ambitious and relevant submission'. The award resulted in the composition of DuoSet (40'), a set of 4 pieces for organ and solo instruments which were premiered in October 2016 in the heart of the City of London at St Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall. As part of the Award during 2016 David studied with the internationally recognised composer Paul Patterson. David graduated from Middlesex University with First Class Honours in Music and the Dean's Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Performing Arts. He is a Fellow of the National College of Music, an Associate of the London College of Music, and was elected as a Fellow of the Guild of Musicians and Singers in 2017. He has been a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians for nearly 15 years. David also holds a BSc (Open) from the Open University. He has studied with Paul Patterson, Brian Inglis, François Evans, Peter Fribbins, Francis Pott and John Webb (who recently won a British Composers’ Award for Community or Education Project). David's studies with John and Paul were kindly supported by the Sheena Booth Music Trust and The Eric Thompson Charitable Trust respectively. N.B. Please do not reproduce without permission. If you wish to include any of this biography in a concert programme etc, please contact David to ensure you receive the most up-to-date and appropiate length version for your needs.2022 and beyond will see first performances of the following significant commissions/prize winning pieces:
Selected significant premieres and performances of David's work 2016-2021 include:
Please see the events page for details of when and where you can hear David's music, and do check twitter for the latest news etc. For a summarised chronology of major/significant events prior to 2016 please continue to read below: 2015 saw the completion of David's longest work to date and his music selected for a workshop with the Master of the Queen's Music (Judith Weir). Liberate te ex inferis: Poema ex Dante a twenty-five minute symphonic poem for solo organ based on Dante's Divine Comedy comissioned by Jonathan Allsopp (Organ Scholar, Durham Cathedral). The première was given by Jonathan in Durham Cathedral as the centerpiece of one of the Cathedral's summer evening recital series in July 2015. 'Limadie meets London' was selected by Judith Weir and Thomas Trotter for a public workshop held in London, organised by Choir & Organ in partnership with the Royal College of Organists. During the workshop David was commended for his approach to organ music. Other significant performances and premieres during 2015 included: Kernewek Suite (Norwegian Flute Ensemble / Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church), Inflemus [a spatial work for trumpet and organ] (Darren Moore & Jem Stephenson / St Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall) and Truro Triptyque (Tak Chow / Brentwood Cathedral, Essex, UK). Chorale Prelude and Postlude premiered by Nicholas Chalmers at St James Muswell Hill, an organ that composers such as Olivier Messiaen and Sir Lennox Berkeley regarded highly for its special character. 2014 included the first broadcast of David's music on BBC Radio 3 and a twenty-five minute programme of his compositions performed at the Palace of Westminster, including premières of after... and Rhapsody No.1 for Flute. Other significant premières during 2014 included: Simul certāminis invicem accidit (London Firebird Orchestra / Rickett Quadrangle, Middlesex University), The Blood of Sunset (Middlesex University Chamber Choir / St Mary's, Hendon), Truro Triptyque (Tak Chow / Truro Cathedral), Chorale Postlude on Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist (Tom Bell / St Michael and All Angels, Croydon), Travelling Triptyque (Tak Chow / St Michael's Cornhill, City of London) and the first performances of two carols; Love Came Down at Christmas in Southwark Cathedral during the Financial Times Carol Service (repeated in Trafalgar Square the same week) and the third of David's South Yorkshire Folk inspired carols Our Saviour and King in the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb. 2013 proved to be a defining period. April marked his first international competition success with Sonus Repercussus winning the Choir & Organ Magazine Composition Competition held in partnership with St Albans International Organ Festival. James McVinnie gave the première of the winning work in St Albans Cathedral during the 50th Anniversary prize-winners concert. Around the same time The Allegri String Quartet selected The Morning River Glideth to be premièred in a public concert, and North London Chorus premièred Holmfirth. The year concluded with the première of Diadem (Choir of St Jude-on-the-Hill, Anna Steppler & Nicholas Chalmers). 2009-2012 Prizes:
Premieres (selected list):
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last updated: 07-Apr-2022 |
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David J Loxley-BlountBSc BA (Hons) ALCM FNCM MISM FGMS |
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