Matthew Rowan - Composer
facts
String Quartet No.2 – ‘Images Of Silence’
Matthew Rowan (1979, Northern Ireland) studied composition with Brian Irvine and Greg Caffrey at South Eastern Regional College on the ND in Popular Music course. He then moved to Newcastle upon Tyne and enrolled at Newcastle College where he completed an HND in Music Production with the guidance of Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout). The natural progression on to the BMus in Popular and Contemporary Music at Newcastle University placed him under the supervision of composers Agustín Fernández and Bennett Hogg who mentored Matthew through a Master’s degree, and then a PhD in Contemporary Composition (2009) which was examined by David Clarke and Peter Wiegold. Additionally, Matthew taught composition at Newcastle University for over five years, and was music studies editor for the inaugural issue of online journal e-pisteme
Matthew is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre
Commission fees and CV available by request [ write ]
New Commission --
Arts and Humanities Research Council funding for new composition presented by the International Centre for Music Studies at Newcastle University as part of the Northumbrian Exchanges project
Reunited --
winning entry for the Red Note Ensemble Noisy Nights call for scores
Place and Time --
winning entry for the John Armitage Memorial call for music
selected compositions
Living In Memories (for cornett, fiddle, lute, mandolin, viol) [2013]
Doucement (for solo guitar) [2012]
Birds of a Feather (for piano duet - one piano, four hands) [2012]
In From The Chill (for SATB choir) [2011]
Place and Time (for solo trumpet) [2011]
Time and Money, Place and Time (for trumpet, viola, cello) [2011]
A beautiful, generous lie (for solo piano) [2011]
Reunited (for solo violin) [2011]
Resonating Past (for solo guitar) [2010]
They offered prayers, original in style (for baritone, piano trio; words by Paul Attinello) [2010]
Bottle (for mezzo-soprano, piano, string quintet; words by
Andrew Crumey) [2009]
Memory On Circles (for chamber orchestra) [2008]
Music From Three Fingers (arr. for piano duo - two piano) [2008]
Music From Six Fingers (for six piano) [2008]
Release (for solo viola) [2007]
String Quartet No.2 – ‘Images Of Silence’ [2007]
A7 WJR (for mezzo-soprano, cor anglais, bass clarinet, piano, viola) [2006]
Reverberations (for chamber orchestra) [2006]
Red (for wind ensemble) [2005]
In The Presence Of Absence (for solo oboe) [2005]
String Quartet No.1 [2004]
Pressing Buttons With Knuckles (for drum kit, three violin, three viola, three cello) [2004]
This Is A Place For Science (for amplified / electric ensemble) [2004]
A Warm Reception (for chamber orchestra) [2003]
curriculum vitae
academic
2004 – 2009
Newcastle University
PhD : composition
Examined by Prof. David Clarke & Prof. Peter Wiegold, 1st May 2009
2003 – 2004
Newcastle University
MMus : composition
2001 – 2003
Newcastle University
BMus (Hons) : popular & contemporary music
1999 – 2001
Newcastle College
Higher National Diploma : music production
1997 – 1999
South Eastern Regional College
National Diploma : popular music
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awards & positions held
2013
Representation by the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland
2009 – present
Member of PRS for Music (PRS & MCPS)
2013
AHRC-funded commission for new composition by the International Centre for Music Studies at Newcastle University as part of the Northumbrian Exchanges project (Living In Memories)
2012
Winning entry for the Red Note Ensemble Noisy Nights call for scores (Reunited)
2012
Winning entry for the John Armitage Memorial (JAM) call for music (Place and Time)
2012
Member of Vox Novus (New York, USA)
2012
Commission for composition by Duo HATO (piano duet)
2011
Completion of Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education – Part A
2009 – 2011
Programming Consultant for London-based Tamesis Ensemble
2010
Commission for composition by Christoph Jäggin (solo guitar)
2009
Commission for composition by Paul Attinello (baritone)
2008
Commission for composition by duoDorT (piano duo)
2004 – 2007
Doctoral Scholarship – AHRC equivalent funding awarded for postgraduate study (Newcastle University)
2006
Commission for composition by Katabatic Winds (wind ensemble)
2003 – 2004
European Social Fund – funding awarded for postgraduate study
Lawrence Atwell’s Charity – funding awarded for postgraduate study
2002
Helen Ferriby Prize (Newcastle University)
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work experience
05/2013
Music engraver for Agustín Fernández’s commission for Momenta Quartet
04/2013
Music engraver for Kathryn Tickell’s commission for Northern Sinfonia
02/2007 – 10/2012
Part-time lecturer in notated composition, Newcastle University
04/2012
Prefab Sprout biography contributor
11/2011 – 02/2012
Coordinator, I3 composition projects, Newcastle University
02/2010
Hospitality officer, Newcastle New Music festival, Newcastle University
09/2007 – 12/2009
Part-time lecturer in performance, Newcastle University
10/2009
Examiner for Master’s degree in composition, Newcastle University
09/2009
Piano improvisation transcriber for Atau Tanaka
05/2009
Artist liaison, Mr McFall’s Chamber, Newcastle University
09/2008 – 05/2009
Part-time lecturer in electroacoustic composition, Newcastle University
11/2008
Post-performance composition masterclass with duoDorT (piano duo), Newcastle University
12/2007 – 07/2008
Music studies editor, inaugural issue of e-pisteme, Newcastle University
03/2008
Adjudicator (music), Routes Into Languages, Festival of International Culture, Newcastle University
10/2007
Guitar performance with Carl Verheyen Band, Ulidia Integrated College
10 – 12/2006
Composition demonstrator, CETL I3 Outreach programme, Newcastle University & Gosforth High School
10/2004 – 11/2006
Part-time guitar tutor, Tynedale Middle School
07/2006
Conference assistant, ¡VAMOS! festival, NewcastleGateshead
09/2005 – 07/2006
Postgraduate mentor, Newcastle University
03 – 04/2006
Music engraver for Felicity Laurence
05 – 06/2004
Assistant invigilator for examinations, Newcastle University
11/1998 – 06/1999
Part-time music technology technician, South Eastern Regional College