Mark Simpson is a leading talent among young British composer-instrumentalists * in 2006 first-ever winner of both the BBC Young Musician of the Year and BBC Proms/Guardian Young Composer of the Year competitions * studied at Royal Northern College of Music, Oxford University and Guildhall School of Music and Drama * as a clarinettist made Wigmore Hall debut at 17 and has appeared as soloist with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic and Northern Sinfonia * as a composer has written commissioned works for BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra * works demonstrate gift for instrumentation and skilful handling of aural perspective within complex textures * his championing of new music includes a disc of works for clarinet and basset clarinet on the NMC label, developed over five years with a range of composers
Works by Mark Simpson include: Threads (2007) for orchestra A mirror-fragment... (2008) for orchestra sparks (2012) Fanfare for orchestra
Looking Ahead: new wind ensemble work for the Britten Sinfonia (Feb 2014); new ensemble work for voices and instruments commissioned thanks to Sky Arts Futures Fund bursary; new orchestral work; plans for first opera project under the Jerwood Opera Writing fellowship scheme
"Sure in its harmonic touch, bold in its orchestral colours, A mirror-fragment... has enough ideas for a piece three times its modest length..." Daily Telegraph
