Announcement: composer in residence

Monday 17 October 2016

We are very pleased to be working with composer Jay Richardson as our composer in residence for the 2016/17 Cambridge Classical Concert Series, the 30th Anniversary season.

Cambridge Corn Exchange began working with Jay last year when he composed laulan, a piece inspired by Finnish folk song and the work of Sibelius, which was performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and young Cambridgeshire Music players. For this Classical Series, Jay will be composing a piece for artist in residence, the trumpeter Alison Balsom, for her recital on 21 Febrary, and working with her on our education programme.

Jay Richardson

Jay Richardson began his musical education as a chorister at Jesus College, Cambridge, and has since continued to perform as a baritone in operas by Britten, Mozart and Menotti. He has studied piano with Ruth McIntyre, Shelagh Sutherland and Julian Trevelyan, and composition with Jeffery Wilson at the Junior Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He was an Aldeburgh Young Musician from 2010 to 2015. Since then his work has been performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Philharmonia Orchestra, and by such artists as Fabien Gabel, Esther Yoo, Julian Trevelyan and Vladimir Ashkenazy. He currently reads Music as a second year undergraduate and organist at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Jay Richardson said "I am delighted to announce that I will be Composer in Residence at Cambridge Corn Exchange for the 2016/17 season! Some tremendous projects are underway, beginning with a new work for Alison Balsom’s recital in February. I will be the first ever Composer in Residence and hope that Cambridge Live continues its impressively forward-thinking commitment to new music and to creative innovation."

Create programme

Our work with Jay Richardson is part of our education programme, Create, whch is at the heart of the Cambridge Classical Concert Series. We are passionate about providing a platform for young aspiring musicians to kickstart their careers. We also offer young musicians the opportunity to perform alongside and learn from the world class musicians that we bring to Cambridge. Find out more.

The Classical Series opens on Friday 28 October with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Photo: Jay Richardson (c) Joe Binder