Just a quick post this morning. A good friend of mine has a design company in Birmingham,UK and I stumbled across one of their blog posts showing a great Dutch photographer who does loads of cool things with coffee amongst other things.
So first you should go and see www.studiobonito.com where there is all of their beautiful design & web work, and then venture on to www.devetpan.com to see some really cool photography.
Thumb (ensemble) have been confirmed to play for a public workshop in the spring term alongside guest performers with the composition department at Birmingham Conservatoire.
Currently I am working on a piece for vibraphone and alto saxophone for saxophonist Rebecca Hastie. I’m also writing a song cycle to be recorded by Thumb alongside singers who are close friends of mine. I hope to have some samples on the website as soon as we get recording.
More updates will be coming to my website and the Thumb website soon…busy times!
Back in June, I finally came to the end of my undergrad at Birmingham conservatoire emerging with a first class honours, so it was great to see all the hard work pay off! There were also various concerts which saw a few performances of It’s Always There (Recorder & Tape) performed by Michelle Holloway and Sit Down (Song Cycle for Baritone and Piano) performed by Matthew Stone & Lindsey Shakeshaft. All the performances were great so big thanks to all the performers.
In August, I had the great pleasure of working with Tim Ford at The Nuffield Theatre, Southampton on the Hampshire Youth Theatre production of The Bacchae. I was working alongside Alex Heffernan, a brilliant singer/songwriter/producer to co-write the music for the show. I had to leave half way through the rehearsals as I was very happy to be getting married, however I hear the show went fantastically well so well done to everyone!
This year I am returning to study for a postgrad at Birmingham Conservatoire from whom I was very grateful to receive a scholarship and bursary from the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust to both of which I’m extremely grateful. This will also enable me to continue the work of contemporary music ensemble, Thumb. There are some really exciting performances on the cards so keep a eye out for when they are!
I have also begun work at Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College running their student and community choirs. If you’re in the area and fancy a good sing, come alog on a Wednesday evening from 7pm-8.30pm.
I am teaming up with Tim Ford again as he puts on a performance of The Bacchae with Hampshire Youth Theatre at The Nuffield, Southampton. After the success of The Women Of Troy in Birmingham, I’m really excited about working with Tim again. I’ll keep more news coming on the developments!
You’ve reached the website of composer Stephen Willey. Please feel free to take a look around and have a listen to some of the samples I have up here. More content will be appearing in the near future so keep checking back!
Just a quick news post to say my ensemble, Thumb will be performing works by Robert Peate, Tom Bassett, Ed Bennett and myself at what promises to be really exciting concert on 26th April. Would be great to see you there if you can come!
Make sure you come down to Birmingham Conservatoire to catch my new extensive work on 26th February 2010. It’s going to be loud, explosive and exciting with pieces from Sebastiano Dessanay, Ben Graves, Andriessen and Roland Dyens, it’s going to be awesome!
