Matthew Rowan - Composer

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 under Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout). The natural progression on to the BMus in Popular and Contemporary Music at Newcastle University placed him in the care of composers Agustín Fernández and Bennett Hogg (with much appreciated help from Martyn Harry and Matthew Sansom) who guided Matthew through a Master’s degree, and then a PhD in Contemporary Composition which was examined by David Clarke and Peter Wiegold. Matthew also teaches composition at Newcastle University, and was music studies editor for the inaugural issue of online journal e-pisteme.

Matthew is currently Associate Composer with
Tamesis Ensemble

selected compositions

Resonating Past (for solo guitar; Christoph Jäggin) [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) [2008]

Music From Six Fingers (for six pianos) [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, 3 violin, 3 viola, 3 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

2009 – present
Member of PRS for Music (PRS & MCPS)

2009 – present
Associate Composer with Tamesis Ensemble

2004 – 2007
Doctoral Studentship – funding awarded (AHRC equivalent) for postgraduate study (ICMuS, School of Arts & Cultures, Newcastle University)

2003 – 2004
European Social Fund – funding awarded for postgraduate study
Lawrence Atwell’s Charity – funding awarded for postgraduate study

2002
Helen Ferriby Prize (ICMuS, School of Arts & Cultures, Newcastle University)

1995 – 1997
Drum Major (Campbell College Pipe Band)

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work experience

02/2009 – present
Associate Composer with Tamesis Ensemble

02/2007 – present
Part-time lecturer in notated composition, 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 transcription for digital media artist Atau Tanaka, Culture Lab, Newcastle University

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
Part-time music notation setting for composer Felicity Laurence

05 – 06/2004
Assistant invigilator for examinations, Newcastle University

11/1998 – 06/1999
Part-time music technology technician, South Eastern Regional College