Composer Information: Kate Cuzner

After leaving LCM and NYJO, Kate’s music experience has continued to take her on a fascinating journey, encompassing every imaginable playing situation and diverse musical style, from  The  Guild of  Ancient Fyfes and Drums,  to orchestras, pit bands, classical chamber groups, jazz quartets, big bands, jazz fusion groups and pop/rock bands.

After touring extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Russia, Australia and New Zealand, playing on radio, TV and in major festivals and a few years working as a PA secretary in the ‘City’ (having temporarily given up playing), she enrolled as a part-time student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and took up the flute again,  winning a Cripplegate Scholarship from the City of London to further her studies on the full-time jazz course there.

She studied flute with Rainer Schuelein (her previous flute teacher, who had encouraged her to start playing again) and Averil Williams, composition/arranging and jazz harmony with Scott Stroman and Lionel Grigson as well as ensemble work with many fine British jazz musicians – John Taylor, Trevor Tomkins, Ian Carr and Dill Katz to name but a few.

Her debut album of original jazz compositions and ‘out of the air’ improvisations was released on FMR in 1997 and distributed by Harmonia Mundi.  Other publishers of her music include Valentine Music, Hunt Edition, Henri Lemoine and  A&C Black .  She also self-publishes and has accepted a number of commissions.  

In addition to recording, examining, performing and composing, Kate maintains a busy teaching schedule as well as coaching ensembles, youth orchestra woodwind sections and taking workshops.  One of her pupils won the Laura Marco Prize for the highest mark attained for ABRSM Grade 8 flute, a number of pupils past and present, have received awards and bursaries to further their studies and some have bravely entered the profession.

View list of works

Back to list of composers

E-mail: kflutecuz@googlemail.com