Episode 44 - Peter Meechan

Jan 22, 2018

Composer Peter Meechan joins the show for a wonderfully thoughtful discussion that includes conversations about his career, music in England, the merits of self-publishing, composition, and the bar at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Topics:

• Pete’s background growing up outside of Birmingham as the son of two folk musicians who surrounded him with music.
• A discussion of the band system in England including opportunities for young musicians and the Black Dyke Brass Band.
• How the bar at the Royal Northern College of Music led to the relationships and opportunities that helped Pete launch his career.
• The value of being self-published as a composer and the importance of retaining your copyright.

Links:

• Meechan Music
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Stravinsky: Symphony of Wind Instruments
• Scott McAllister: Gone
• Melanie Brooks
• "Building Bridges through Music" Festival

Biography:

The music of Canadian-based British composer Peter Meechan is performed throughout the world. His music has been commissioned, recorded, broadcast and performed by some of the world’s leading wind orchestras, brass bands, conductors and soloists, including: “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey, Black Dyke Brass Band, Dunshan Symphonic Wind Orchestra, The Band of the Coldstream Guards, RNCM Wind Orchestra, Steven Mead, Jens Lindemann, Ryan Anthony, Les Neish, Linda Merrick, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Rex Richardson, Jacques Mauger and many more.

Meechan’s music is featured on over 100 commercial recordings and has been featured at festivals and clinics globally, including the Midwest Clinic, the International Trumpet Guild, the International Tuba and Euphonium Association, BASBWE conferences, and in 2014 his work “The Legend of King Arthur” was used as the set test piece at the British National Brass Band Championships, held in the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Peter was the first ever “Young Composer in Association” with the prestigious Black Dyke Brass band, where he went on to serve as their “Composer in Residence”, a position he also held between 2012 – 2015 with The Band of the Coldstream Guards.

He holds an undergraduate degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, a Master of Arts degree and a PhD (composition), both from the University of Salford where his principal tutor was Professor Peter Graham.

Peter Meechan’s music is principally published by his own publishing house, Meechan Music.