Programme Note:

Based on two opposing subject matters, the Light Messenger is a poetic description of the meaning to communicate through the sky. The first of which is based on the Sanskrit poem ‘The Cloud Messenger’ by Kalidasa. The poem tells the story of a poet who has long been separated from his wife and who prevails upon a passing cloud to carry a message of love to her. The other concerns Hawking radiation, where hypothetical particles are formed by a black holes boundary. This radiation implies black holes have temperatures that are inversely proportional to their mass; the smaller the black hole, the hotter it will glow. This glowing light felt like our final message in the universe - similar to the cloud in ‘The Cloud Messenger’. The concerto goes on a journey in which the poetic lyrical message of the cloud distorts and breaks down into subsequent light particles.

This version of the piece is a microcosm of a larger piece in which both Fenella and I hope to collaborate on in the future. 

Performing here is Fenella Humphrey’s with the Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra and Aaron Holloway-Nahum in a workshop of the piece.

The Light Messenger - Performed Live by Fenella Humphreys, Aaron Holloway-Nahum & RAM SO

Jasper Dommett (b. 1997) is an accomplished British composer who is currently pursuing a PhD at the Royal College of Music, where they also hold the post of Mendelssohn Scholar. In 2023, Jasper graduated with double distinction from the Royal Academy of Music, where they also received a DipRAM for their outstanding work. Throughout their studies, they were supported by the Ralph Vaughn Williams Trust and the Countess of Munster Trust. Prior to this, Jasper graduated with first-class honours from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Jasper has a flair for creating “intense orchestral” landscapes with “crystalline gestures” and “languid lyricism” (The Scotsman). Their work Night Music, written for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, was the start of this fascination, leading to nominations for an Ivor Novello Award in the Large Orchestral Category, a shortlisting in the inaugural Michael Tippett Medal for Music, and the awarding of the Paul Mealor Award for Student Composers.

Their work, Dreams of Isolation, written for Sir Andrew Davis and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra was a deeper dive into the power of the orchestra. Described as “unique and original” (Sir Andrew Davis) the piece is a reflection on the transformative force of dreams with “haunting textures” and “impressive melodic writing” (The Art’s Desk).

In 2023, Jasper received a nomination for their second Ivor Novello Award, recognised for their piece Disco! Disco! Good! Good?. This work, written and workshopped for Aaron Holloway Nahum and the Riot Ensemble, pays tribute to the queer ballroom culture that emerged during the disco era, which created safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals to express themselves through dance and fashion. This recognition contributes to the development of their reputation as a composer with a passion for innovation and pushing artistic boundaries.

2021 saw the sell-out premiere of Jasper’s first opera, Coram Boy, based on Helen Edmundson’s theatrical adaptation of Jamila Gavin’s highly acclaimed novel an experience which has left them excited about new possibilities for the art form. Looking ahead to 2024, Jasper is set to debut a new opera, Fanny & Stella’s Last Day Out, in collaboration with librettist Jessica Walker for the Tète-a-tète festival. This work delves into the lives of two Victorian drag queens known for defying societal boundaries.

At present, Jasper is actively collaborating with two esteemed musical ensembles. Their work with the London Philharmonic Orchestra involves the creation of a new work for dance exploring themes of identity and microtonality, due for premiere in the summer of 2024. Additionally, Jasper is currently participating in the Royal Philharmonic Society's composers scheme, where they are collaborating closely with Lotte Betts-Dean and the Hebrides Ensemble on a new work for 2025.

Jasper’s music has also been performed by soloists and ensembles such as London Sinfonietta, Psappha, Berkeley Ensemble, Fenella Humphreys, Tabea Debus, Joseph Havlat, and George Fu; with broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and performances at Usher Hall, Hallé St Peters, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St Davids Hall, Royal Glasgow Concert Hall, and BBC Hoddinott Hall.

Joseph Davies is a Cardiff-born composer and collaborative artist based in London. Hailed as “one of the brightest of rising stars” (Bernard Clarke, RTÉ), his music is often characterised by extremes of frenetic activity and serene contemplation which seek to reflect and transcend the wild contradictions of 21st century life. A love of obsessive rhythmic patterning akin to American minimalism and electronic dance music is wedded to an extroverted flair for instrumental colour, resulting in "extraordinarily vivid and exuberant" music of "overwhelming power" where boundaries between the spiritual and the carnal dissolve.

His works, performed and broadcast throughout Europe and the USA, range from virtuosic chamber-size pieces for some of the most gifted musicians of his generation to large-scale pieces for ensembles including several for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, most recently his violin concerto Parallax (2021) premiered by Daniel Pioro in 2022. Other commissions include Intricate Images (2014) for harpist Catrin Finch and cellist Steffan Morris, the orchestral song cycle The Shortest Day (2016) setting specially written texts by former Archbishop of Canterbury and poet Rowan Williams to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, and Hymn to Hermes (2018) for The Hermes Experiment.

As an arranger, conductor and recording artist he has a knack for bringing out the best in his collaborators, with projects including Meilyr Jones’s prize-winning album 2013 (2016, Moshi Moshi) and Baxter Dury’s Prince of Tears (2017, Heavenly Recordings), both regarded as those artists’ finest work to date. In 2017 Joseph’s wind orchestra piece Anemoi was nominated for a BASCA British Composer Award and he was awarded the Sir Geraint Evans Prize by the Welsh Music Guild. Other projects include work for CHROMA Ensemble, EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble and the Esbjerg Ensemble, with performances at the Royal Festival Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Musikhuset Aarhus, National Concert Hall (Dublin) and elsewhere.

Joseph has been a lecturer in composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama since 2013 where he has taught over a hundred composers to date. From 2019-23 he was the lead composer for Tŷ Cerdd’s CoDI Text scheme, mentoring six composers alongside Irish writer Kaite O’Reilly. His work is published by Birdsong Music, with some works published by Chester Music.

Iain Stringer Facebook and YouTube

Solo writer, composer and theatremaker. Previous: work: Prevail (dance). Currently in progress: Do or Die (solo musical) and Expectations Great (solo physical theatre).

I was born in Leicester in the late 1950's. Since semi-retirement and subsequent retirement (as a Dermatologist and formerly G.P) I have spent some of my spare time trying to learn music theory. I also enjoy long distance running as well as cycling, skiing and tennis. I enjoy cooking, gardening and growing a few vegetables. And fine wine (in moderation). I enjoy insect photography, with a particular interest in hoverflies..
To my regret I never learnt a musical instrument when younger but I have listened to and been fascinated by music for as long as I can remember. The advent of the computer age has allowed me to pursue my desire to compose music. I use Logic Pro X software (and MuseScore3 for recent piano compositions). My compositions reflect my varied listening preferences (including Contemporary Classical, Jazz and  Music from other cultures around the world).

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Loving listening to everyone's music on here :-))))))))))