Described by Gramophone as ‘a major presence in starry company’, Alex Woolf has composed music for a wide variety of artists and ensembles; these include Sir James Galway, The London Symphony Orchestra, The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, Malcolm Martineau, and the Choirs of Truro, Norwich, Peterborough and Ely Cathedrals. His music has been performed both across the UK and internationally, and has been broadcast several times on Classic FM and BBC Radio 3.
Recent commissions include a new flute work for Sir James Galway (commissioned by Classic FM and the Royal Philharmonic Society); an anthem for St John the Divine Cathedral, New York, marking the 500th anniversary of the 1517 reformation; and a carol for Truro Cathedral’s Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.
This year Alex has combined a busy schedule of commissions with roles as a member of the London Symphony Orchestra’s Panufnik Composers Scheme and as a Classic FM 25th Birthday Composer. Recently Alex's music has received premieres at Cadogan Hall, the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Southwark Cathedral and the Ludlow Festival of English Song, and earlier this year Colin Currie directed the premiere of his percussion quartet, Cantata. This season culminates with the premiere of Alex's Requiem, featuring Laura van der Heijden (cello) and Nicky Spence (tenor) as soloists. Alex is currently working with producer Laurence Grissell on an ‘NHS Symphony’ for BBC Radio 3, due to be broadcast on 30th June this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS. Over the coming months, Alex looks forward to performances at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, the Buxton Festival, Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge, and the Royal Academy of Music.
In 2012 Alex was BBC Young Composer of the Year, and his Fanfare opened the 2012 International Olympic Committee session, performed at Covent Garden by Sir Antonio Pappano and the Royal Opera House Orchestra to accompany the entrance of HRH The Princess Royal. In 2013 Alex composed Three Tempestuous Tunes for acclaimed tenor Nicky Spence’s debut album ‘As You Like It’, recorded with pianist Malcolm Martineau. These songs received their US premiere in 2015, and were performed live on BBC Radio 3 in 2016 by Mark Stone and Richard Sisson.
Alex contributed twice to Benjamin Britten’s centenary year in 2013: his Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings (written for Alexei Watkins) was performed in Snape Maltings Concert Hall as part of Aldeburgh Music’s centenary weekend, and the London Youth Choir performed his Begone, Dull Care as part of their own centenary celebrations. In December 2015 Alex marked the bicentenary of Anthony Trollope with a new commission for the Trollope Society’s commemorative ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
Alex is also active as an accompanist of singers and instrumentalists, and has a particularly strong recital partnership with horn player Alexei Watkins, for whom he has written several pieces. Alex and Alexei’s recent and upcoming engagements include recitals at the Buxton Festival, the Foundling Museum, Charlton House and Southwark Cathedral.
Alex graduated in 2016 with a double First from St John’s College, Cambridge, where he studied composition with Tim Watts; later this year will complete his master’s degree at Royal Academy of Music, where he has studied with David Sawer and Huw Watkins, also receiving tutelage from Oliver Knussen and Colin Matthews. Alex’s studies at the Royal Academy have been generously supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
'A major presence in starry company'
- Gramophone
'A fresh, urgent voice ... wholly affecting'
- International Record Review
