Composer Information: Gareth Clemson

Gareth Clemson  is a composer, performer, teacher, freelance music critic, born in New Zealand, living and working in Scotland since 1962. A graduate of Auckland and Edinburgh Universities, he had lessons in composition from Thomas Wilson from 1963 to 1965. Gareth has been a class music teacher, then a peripatetic teacher of violin, firstly in West Lothian and secondly in Fife. He now teaches violin and piano privately.

As a composer, his works have been broadcast on Radio New Zealand and Radio Scotland with public performances in the USA, Italy, Scotland and New Zealand.  Selected works include: Viola transcriptions of the Quartet from Rigoletto, the sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor, the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor, and Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude — all for unaccompanied solo viola. Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alasdair Mitchell gave the premiere of Pandura for full orchestra. The same conductor also premiered A Song for the Inner Self  for full orchestra on 23 February 2001 performed by the East Renfrewshire Schools Orchestra. A Passing Dream for orchestra and chorus was performed by Philomusica of Edinburgh in St Mary’s Cathedral 2005, conducted by Stephen Doughty.

More recently, highly commended for Trumpet can Roam and winner of the unpublished adult section with Arabesque G 16 competition organised by the National Galleries of Scotland in association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

For relaxation, writes short stories on a varied range of topics.

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E-mail: garethhclemson@gmail.com