Brass players, Composers, Interviews, Podcast

Podcast 1 – Rodney Newton

nezzyonbrass January 24, 2016

Rodney Newton

Recorded November 2013

In this first episode of the Nezzy on Brass Podcast Nigel Seaman talks to Composer Rodney Newton. Rodney has had a long and varied career as a music consultant to the London Film School, worked as a freelance arranger, music journalist, music critic, lecturer, adjudicator and General Editor of a music publishing company.

He studied at the Birmingham School of Music, which is now the Birmingham Conservatoire (where he is an Honorary Member), London International Film School and Salford University – where he gained a Masters degree in composition with distinction.

His professional career includes the BBC Orchestra in Bristol (timpanist and percussionist), composer of music for the BBC World Service, Orchestra of Sadler’s Wells (now English Opera) as co-principal percussionist and principal timpani. He has also worked on many films and television programs as a composer, arranger, musical director and consultant.

His own compositions include fourteen symphonies, five string quartets, chamber works, vocal music and several published works for brass and wind bands.

More recently he was the composer in residence for the Cory Band. During that time Rodney produced some outstanding commissions including ‘The King of Elfland’s Daughter’ which, as you will hear, was written in a remarkably short time frame. He has also written for the Area Championships in 2009 with his ‘Four Cities Symphony’, several solo pieces and many other concert items.

The interview looks at Rodney’s career in depth and some of the characters and quirky events along the way as he progressed his musical skills. What shines through the podcast is Rodney’s great oratorical skills, warmth and humour – enjoy!

Listen to the Podcast here