*
banner

RPS Accolade for Thea Musgrave CBE

The acclaimed composer has been made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Thea Musgrave
  The award winning composer has been made a Fellow of the RPS

Composer Thea Musgrave CBE has been made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.

The award to the 94-year-old Scottish composer was made in New York where she has lived and worked for many years.

Musgrave studied University of Edinburgh and the Paris Conservatoire under Nadia Boulanger and later, with Aaron Copland at Tanglewood.

Acclaimed works

Her acclaimed output has included works for numerous world class orchestras, soloists and arts organisations, many marked by the incorporation of physical movement by the soloists and orchestral musicians to heighten the theatre of a performance.

She has received several awards and honours including IVORs Awards, CBE (2002) and the Queen's Medal for Music.

Notable works include the 'Concerto for Orchestra' (1967), 'Space Play' (1974), her seminal opera 'Mary, Queen of Scots' (1977), 'The Seasons' (1988), and 'Songs for a Winter's Evening' (1995).

Variations

Her short brass band work 'Variations' was written in 1966 and premiered by the National Youth Band of Scotland. It was later recorded by the then Sun Life Band in 1990.

The theme and five variations were inspired by the composer's investigation in to the unusual colourings and tonalities she felt a brass band offered.

Other works for brass include a Trumpet Concerto (2019) and Horn Concerto (1971) as well as several compositions for wind and brass ensemble.

Musical icon

The citation accompanying the award stated: "Thea is a musical icon. Over a remarkable international career, she has created a body of work bursting with energy, ready to leap off the page and seize our imagination.

Her music abounds with such style and sophistication, constantly asking fresh and daring questions of musical forms and traditions.

She lures us in by suffusing her music with so much of the world we know, drawing in particular on paintings, poems, myths and her Scottish heritage as the starting point for so many of her musical voyages."

Thea is a musical icon. Over a remarkable international career, she has created a body of work bursting with energy, ready to leap off the page and seize our imaginationRPS citation

Honour

In response the composer said: "It is a tremendous honour and privilege. Also a privilege is the opportunity to write new music; one which I have had the great fortune to do for, well, quite a few years.

Music is nothing without musicians, and so I am grateful for all those who have commissioned, programmed and performed my music throughout my career, here in this room, here in the US, back in my native UK and around the world."

Further details:

https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps_today/news/thea-musgrave-receives-rps-honorary-membership

Image copyright: Bryan Sheffield 2015

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Bandsafe

BBE BOPA renewed by Department of Education

July 5 • New safeguarding measures have come into place with BBE's BOPA renewed to give bands essential help.


Hands

Blissful appointment at Carlton Brass

July 5 • Matt Ludford-King has been appointed as the new MD at Carlton Brass as they look towards their Cheltenham National Finals appearance.


Smith and Grezzy

Smith & Grezzy: Big Chat podcast

July 5 • The latest episode is entitled 'Entertainment Post Bag and Talking with Dinosaurs'...


roal

Royal seal of approval for Scottish banding

July 5 • Scottish banding has been playing its part in welcoming the royals on their latest visit to the nation.


Brass Bands England - Brass Band Week

Saturday 5 July • Nation wide


Besses Boys' Band - Besses Boys' Band Summer Concert

Saturday 5 July • The Derby High School, Radcliffe Rd, Bury BL9 9NH


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band - Summer Concert

Sunday 6 July • Community Church Putney, Werter Road. SW15 2LL


Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


Concert Brass Poynton

July 4 • Concert Brass Poynton: No Contesting - Not a learners Band. Rehearse on Wednesday Evenings between 8.00 to 10.00pm (short comfort break). We seek a front row cornet and a Tenor Horn and A Tenor Trombone and Bass Trom too..


Ocean Brass

July 4 • Ocean Brass are inviting applications for a kit player, as we prepare for an exciting schedule of concerts and contests in the second section through 2025 and beyond! We rehearse Thursdays 8pm-10pm, Banister Park Bowls Club, Southampton, SO50 9HT


Haverhill Silver Band

July 3 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a PRINCIPAL CORNET. This is a superb opportunity to lead East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Dr Brett Baker

BSc (Hons), ARCM, PG Dip
Marketing Lead, Denis Wick & Alliance Products; Artist at Michael Rath Instruments


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd