As a successful composer for over two decades, Andy Scott has gained a reputation for the quality and impact of his works. Since winning a British Composer Award in 2006, Andy has established himself as a composer constantly in demand, writing for leading instrumentalists and ensembles. His compositions feature on approximately forty CD recordings and are published by Astute Music.
Self taught as a composer, Andy’s distinctive compositional voice speaks with a unique and effective mix of jazz, world music and contemporary classical elements. With an equal commitment to the three strands of his creative work, Andy integrates composition with his various performance projects and education activities.
Self taught as a composer, Andy’s distinctive compositional voice speaks with a unique and effective mix of jazz, world music and contemporary classical elements. With an equal commitment to the three strands of his creative work, Andy integrates composition with his various performance projects and education activities.
“Andy Scott is a hugely talented composer using his artistry to communicate fresh ideas through a traditional sound.” – Bramwell Tovey, Music Director, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Composer Biography
As a successful contemporary composer, Andy Scott integrates his composition work with his various performance projects and education activities. He works to commission, and is increasingly in demand to write for leading instrumentalists and ensembles on the world stage. Andy takes a collaborative approach to the development of a new piece, working closely with the performers and, in some cases, other creative artists to achieve a highly personal, tailored work. Self taught as a composer, Andy’s distinctive compositional voice speaks with a unique and effective mix of jazz, world music and contemporary classical elements.
Andy Scott received a British Composer Award in 2006 for his double saxophone concerto Dark Rain. In 2010 Crossing Waves, a work for solo harp, was premiered at Carnegie Hall NYC, Three Letter Word, commissioned by the Park Lane Group was premiered at the South Bank Centre London, Seven Dances and No Looking Back featured on the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet Chandos CD Dances, and his piece Jukebox was given a world premiere at the Southbank Centre by respected harpist Sioned Williams. A project with Lancashire Sinfonietta and Nicholas Kok saw Andy commissioned to write an hour of music for strings, rhythm section and solo saxophone.
Andy is composer in residence with Foden’s Band, whose first recording of his works A World Within won the British Bandsman CD of the Year in 2010. Having made an impression as a skilled writer for brass, the relationship with Foden’s has led to Andy’s works being featured on prizewinning recordings by Les Neish (tuba) and Glyn Williams (euphonium). Andy’s work Spirit of Mingus, commissioned by Foden’s, was shortlisted for a British Composer Award in 2012, and features on Spirit of Foden’s, a second CD of Andy Scott brass band works released in 2013.
Andy Scott was one of 20 composers selected for a prestigious New Music Biennial commission, composing a new work for Foden’s Band, harpist Lauren Scott, soprano/narrator Anna-Clare Monk and four narrators drawn from Foden’s Youth Band. Entitled A Child Like You, the composition received its world premiere performance at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester in May 2014. It also featured in special weekend festivals at London’s Southbank Centre and Glasgow UNESCO City of Music. A Child Like You was nominated for a BASCA British Composer Award in 2015.
The Bad Tempered Flute, an album of Andy’s compositions for flute, was released in 2011 on the Nimbus Alliance label, featuring Paul Edmund-Davies, Clare Southworth and Andy Findon, with Craig Ogden, Peter Lawson, Lauren Scott and Tim Carey.
In 2012 he was commissioned to write a Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra, which was premiered at the World Saxophone Congress in St Andrews by Branford Marsalis and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Clark Rundell.
All his works are published exclusively by Astute Music, and as well as concert works, Andy has a number of compositions on the syllabi for ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall grade examinations.
Andy often has the opportunity to integrate composition and performance in his various ensembles. As Tenor Saxophonist and a founder member of the internationally acclaimed Apollo Saxophone Quartet, Andy composed several works specifically for the group. His Phantom Sweetheart, a four movement work written as part of the quartet’s black and white film project, features on their CD Words and Pictures. My Mountain Top, a moving, atmospheric composition incorporating a poem by Lemn Sissay, appears on the same recording and has subsequently been arranged for a variety of other instruments, proving to be one of Andy’s most popular works.
Andy also writes much of the material for his own large jazz ensemble SaxAssault, which has recorded three CDs and featured on BBC Radio 3 Jazz Notes. Andy and percussionist Dave Hassell have worked as an experimental Duo since 1996, performing internationally and releasing two albums. Andy is involved in many collaborative projects with other artists, most recently Caliente, a trio with flautist Clare Southworth and harpist Lauren Scott, for which he writes.
Recent commissions from Andy were premiered at the Purcell Room and Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Wigmore Hall and Royal Albert Hall.
Future projects include a Guitar Concerto for Craig Ogden and a Trumpet Concerto for Rex Richardson.
Photo: Andy backstage in Strasbourg at the closing concert of the World Saxophone Congress, given by his group SaxAssault, with colleague, friend and Supertramp legend John Helliwell.
Andy Scott’s works are published by Astute Music, a publishing company specialising in high quality compositions by high quality composers. Run by musicians and offering a service to customers and composers alike, the company works with specialist editors, all leading players and teachers in their specialist areas, to ensure that its high levels of quality are maintained.
In a relatively short time Astute has built a strong reputation in the music world, and has many pieces on both the Associated Board and Trinity Guildhall grade syllabuses, including works by Andy Scott. Astute Music publications are stocked by over 80 music shops worldwide and its catalogue currently features about 70 works by Andy, including a particularly wide repertoire for brass and woodwind instruments and ensembles.
In a relatively short time Astute has built a strong reputation in the music world, and has many pieces on both the Associated Board and Trinity Guildhall grade syllabuses, including works by Andy Scott. Astute Music publications are stocked by over 80 music shops worldwide and its catalogue currently features about 70 works by Andy, including a particularly wide repertoire for brass and woodwind instruments and ensembles.
