Composer Information: Peter McGarr

Peter McGarr is inspired by the dramatic moorland, urban horizons and volatile weather of the northern landscape. He hears a poetic beauty in falling rain, wind against stone and skies disrupted by man made sounds. His music contrasts half-etched melodies with subtle layers of light and colour. He follows in a long tradition of British artists and composers who have interpreted the landscape.

Born in Manchester, he studied Music and Dance at Mather College and is self-taught in composition. For several years he taught steel pan, achieving the Outstanding Performance Award from Music for Youth for his steel band `Orchestral Steel. He has also been nominated for Music Teacher of the Year, the British Composer Awards and Paul Hamlyn Awards

Peter McGarr has had performances and commissions from many leading musicians including Joanna MacGregor, BBC Proms, London Sinfonietta, Brodsky Quartet, Ensemble Bash and BBC Philharmonic.

His music features in Faber's 'Unbeaten Tracks' series and he was commissioned by Joanna MacGregor to write a 1,000 voice piece for the Bath Festival's 60th anniversary. He has recently been commissioned by the 2009 Edinburgh International Music Festival for a series of soundtrack works.

Currently he lives in a tiny house, on the edge of the bleak Lancashire/Yorkshire Moors with his wife, a cat called Spike and dog, Gracie.

Peter McGarr won the British Composer Award (Making Music Category) for 2013-4.P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }

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E-mail: petermcgarr.composer@gmail.com

Web-site: www.petermcgarr-composer.co.uk