John Metcalf
John Metcalf is a leading Welsh composer who has composed major works in many musical forms. While his cultural roots are in the heart of Wales, his work has a broad international following and is represented in a growing catalogue of recordings.
In 2009 he received one of four inaugural Creative Wales Ambassador Awards from the Arts Council of Wales. The awards recognise artists' achievements, their standing in the arts in Wales and their capacity to push the boundaries of their art inherently as form and as a point of contact with contemporary Wales.
2010 highlights included the release in September by Signum Records of the 'Paths of Song' CD, containing Septet, Llwybrau Cân (Paths of Song), Castell Dolbadarn (Dolbadarn Castle) and Mapping Wales and a recording of his six piano palindrome Never Odd or Even in a multi-track version by Dutch pianist Jeroen van Veen on Brilliant Classics 9171/7. On October 29th his new saxophone quartet On Song was premiered by the Lunar Saxophone Quartet at the Riverfront Centre, Newport. Several performances followed and the work was also released on Signum Records SIGCD233.
On January 30th 2011 Mapping Wales was performed in Cardiff by the Welsh Sinfonia conducted by Mark Eager with the Prince of Wales' harpist Claire Jones as soloist. In Denmark, Ensemble Midtvest gave four performances of Rest in Reason, Move in Passion during the last week of the month.
At present he is continuing work on his seventh opera based on Dylan Thomas' UNDER MILK WOOD. The opera is a international co-commission - from the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea and Companion Star, New York.