 On Saturday 5th May 2018 I was fortunate enough to be in Utrecht and attend the world premiere of Defiance, a new work that I had been approached to write for the Fairey Brass Band, supported by Brass Band England & funded by PRSF.
Fairey Band were representing England at the prestigious European Brass Band Championships, with each band playing the set test piece A Time for Outrage, a wonderful work from Marco Putz, originally for Fanfare Orchestra, arranged for the occasion by my friend Paul McGhee (a brilliant composer himself) and the following day performing an own choice work. In this competition (as with others in the
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 The Apollo Saxophone Quartet will be performing in an exciting collaborative project with the Artvark Saxophone Quartet in several concerts between the 24th - 26th May 2018 in the Netherlands! For more info on these events, click here [link to events when that's live] The two quartets met in South Africa whilst touring together and there was an instant connection, both musically and personally. Both groups are musically open-minded and all eight musicians are composers as well as saxophonists. In January 2018, the Artvark met the Apollo for three days of intense rehearsing, each player bringing a new octet, before launching this collaboration in May in Holland. UK dates and a recording will follow in 2018/2019...  Photo by Lenny Oosterwijk from http://www.artvarksq.com/ Performed at the WASBE Conference (World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) in Utrecht, July 2017. Andy’s piece was performed by the Gelders Fanfare Orchestra with vocalist Fenna Orgrajensek and directed by Erik Van de Kolk. Described as ‘touching’ and ‘emotional’, A Child like You is based upon the real-life story of a 17-year old Ugandan Asian boy who fled to Britain in the early 1970's to escape the brutal rule of Idi Amin. “in the midst of the turmoil of the music a duet of singer and harp […] I cried […] we could read the whole story through the music.”  'Fujiko' by Andy Scott, scored for solo flute and wind orchestra, has recently been featured in various concerts around Japan, performed by flutist Rachel Smith with the Coldstream Guards as part of their 2017 Japan Tour On the 2nd September, saxophonists Rob Buckland & Matt Styles, with the WAAPA Symphonic Wind Ensemble gave a performance of Andy Scott’s ‘Dark Rain’ at the All Saints’ College Centre for Performing Arts in Perth, Australia. ‘Dark Rain’ is one continuous movement and after a dramatic opening exclamation from the two soloists, journeys through a collision of contemporary classical, bebop, big band and swing before concluding with a release of tension in a final chorale. ‘”Dark Rain’ will leave the audience with no doubt of the versatility and musical power of the saxophone.” – Matt Styles in interview with Scenestr. Andy Scott with ‘Dark Rain’ ~ Winner of a British Composer Award in 2006 The sheet music for ‘Dark Rain’ (Two Saxophones & Wind Orchestra) is available here  Introducing Kickstart flute, a fantastic new online flute teaching resource by flautist Clare Southworth, in association with Trevor James Flutes.  Upon starting formal flute lessons, Clare speaks of finding the beginner tutor books rather narrow in their choices of music so "my idea of writing a beginner method then was to include all genres, to encourage a love of all music”. The tutorials are based around 24 duets encompassing all genres of music, composed by Andy Scott, ‘one of the most versatile and exciting composers writing today.’ “ Kickstart flute is a completely new approach to learning, it’s challenging and it’s good to have a challenge, with the reward being able to play fabulous original music by Andy Scott” To read more on this fantastic flute teaching resource, visit: https://www.kickstartflute.com/
Music commissioned & funded by TJ Flutes
On Wednesday 30th August 2017, international woodwind specialist Diana Tolmie and award-winning jazz pianist Sophie Min premiered Sonata by Andy Scott at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Ian Hanger Recital Hall in Australia.
Andy Scott’s Sonata for saxophone & piano is available for purchase here
Have a listen to this clip of Sonata as performed by Anthony Brown (alto sax) & Leo Nicholson (piano) from the World premiere in 2015...
Andy Scott’s new piece for clarinet ensemble, Momento was commissioned by the South Tyrol Clarinet Ensemble & the British Clarinet Ensemble. Momento is a six minute work that pays homage to Monk, Ella and Dizzy, three jazz legends who share 1917 as their year of birth. The world premiere takes place on Monday 4th September 2017, 20:30 in Drescher Kellen, Kaltern, Italy and will be performed by the combined forces of the South Tyrol & British Clarinet Ensembles.  The UK premiere by the British Clarinet Ensemble will take place on Saturday 21st October 2017 in Oakham School Chapel. More details to follow…
One of Andy's works for Flute and Piano "... Αnd Everything is Still" was premiered on Saturday 10th June 2017, in Athen, Greece at the "Εrateio Odeio" Concert Hall.
The concert, entitled " Sometime the Sea"- when music meets poetry also featured Paschalis Plisis (Narrator), Flute: Hellas Chalkia and Piano: Thanos Margetis  Andy Scott + Group S CD - Ruby & All Things Purple
It's finally released (hooray) and is now available on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/…/ruby-all-things-pur…/id1209343576 But... ...I'd be grateful if you bought a hard copy CD from either the record company direct (BASHO) or my online webshop. It's a good looking CD to have in your collection, (if you like that sort of thing), it has lots of liner notes, plus I get more royalties than if you bought the album through iTunes. I've deliberately asked for the CD to not be available via streaming, so you won't find it on Spotify or similar services. I'd get around 0.000001p per stream from Spotify, so I don't want this CD on a service which doesn't give composers a decent royalty. So please, support my music by buying the CD direct from either BASHO or my online webshop BASHO RECORDS Ruby And All Things Purple  The Maidstone Symphonic Windband are launching a new CD of Windband Music by Andy Scott on 25th February 2017.
At the end of January, Andy took part in the Westland Saxofoon Festival. He had composed a new piece of music specifically for the event, which he has since named "Westland" and it was successfully premiered over that weekend.  The weekend of 11th/12th February saw Andy attending the inaugural JazzSmart Workshop for the North west, which was a huge success. The 2-day workshop, held in partnership with the Manchester College Jazz Department featured a varied repertoire of British compositions. There will also be a further 3-day Saxophone ensemble workshop on 4th-6th August in Barton on Sea (near Bournemouth) when Andy will be working with anyone wanting to take their saxophone and ensemble playing to the next level. For further details see the JazzSmart website: www.jazzsmart.com/andy-scott-2017/  There is currently a special offer of £15 off the rrp for Libero (making it now excellent value at £60) until the end of 2017. Use promotion code XMAS60 at the checkout.  Saxophonist/composer Andy Scott undertook a series of specially-designed Saxophone Days from March to July 2016, in England, Wales & France!
Hosted by Music Hubs (Love Music Trust, Hertfordshire, Hull Music Services, East Riding & Accent), York & Shrewsbury Schools, Creative Vacances, Hot House Music, MusicFest Aberystwyth & JazzSmart, Andy devised a programme that had appeal for saxophonists of all ages and levels of experience, writing & arranging music specifically for the occasion. As an internationally-respected musician with over 30 years professional experience, Tutor of Saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music, a founder member of the Apollo Saxophone There are still some places left for the MusicFest Saxophone Course (23-31 July)
For more information go to http://musicfestaberystwyth.org/events/saxophone/  Huge congratulations to talented Saxophonist Jess Gillam for having won through to be one of three finalists in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.
Congratulations to young Saxophonist, Jess Gillam on her success in the Woodwind Section of the BBC's Young Musician of the Year 2016 Competition last week.
Some fantastic prizes totalling £4,000 available to be won when you attend one of the 9 events that form part of Andy's Lucky Draw Sax Tour this summer.
Sax and Piano duo, Vykintas Civas (alto saxophone) & Birute Stundziaite (piano), are to perform 'Three Letter Word' by Andy Scott in three concerts in Lithuania during April 2016:
April 6 at festival 'Pavasaris piano.lt 2016' to be held in Vilnius April 8 at festival 'Sugrizimai 2016', in Ukmerge April 12 at festival 'Sugrizimai 2016', held in Vilnius Dave Hassell (Drums and Percussion), Paul Kilvington (Keyboards), Ken Marley (Double Bass) and Andy launch a new project called 'Celebrating Brazil'. "The Quartet has been exploring music from Brazil in rehearsal, tracks from Hermeto, Airto and Jobim. It's amazing music, harmonically and rhythmically complex with memorable melodies. It's been great learning these tunes and we are all looking forward to the forthcoming gigs." Check the events page for further details.  Seventeen-year-old Saxophonist, Jess Gillam is due to take part in the Woodwind Final of the BBCs Young Musician of the Year competition. "Jess Gillam is a wonderful young musician, who works very hard and has a great attitude. For a number of years, she has been studying at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School, and will be commencing her studies as an undergraduate student at the RNCM in September 2016. Everybody is delighted that Jess has once again reached the Woodwind Final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and wish her the best of luck in Cardiff on 7th March. On a personal level, I am really pleased that Jess has chosen to include my piece 'Fujiko' in her programme." www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/bbc-young-musician www.jessgillamsax.co.uk  Lucky Draw Sax Tour is an idea of Andys that sees him directing a number of saxophone days and saxophone courses in the UK and France from March to July 2016. By attending one of these events, you will automatically be included in a draw to win some fantastic prizes to take place on 31st July. "I'm really looking forward to working with lots of saxophonists in the UK and France and am very grateful to Selma Paris Saxophones, Vandoren, Astute Music and Libero for providing a wonderful array of prizes. In addition, I will compose a 3-minute piece as one of the main prizes specifically to that persons saxophonic experience." See the Events pages for dates and further details.,  About 15 months ago, Andy was approached by Mark Concar, Director of the Love Music Trust percussion ensemble, to see if he would be interested in writing a work for the group. Love Music Trust is the music hub for Cheshire East and has a number of flagship County ensembles, with the percussion ensemble at the forefront, giving performances in London and Manchester as well as Cheshire East and undertaking collaborative projects that give the young musicians of the group invaluable musical experiences. The quirky title of the piece, Elvis was my Taxi Driver, came about when Andy himself was a student at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. After gigging one night with an Elvis impersonator, the following lunchtime, Andy was giving a workshop in a Manchester school with his Jazz Quintet and was waiting for percussionist, Mike Hamnett, to arrive by taxi and lo and behold, the very same Elvis was his driver! The 6-minute piece divides in to three sections; By Day, Morphing and The King which roughly follows a day in the life of our Taxi-driving Elvis impersonator. "A big thank you to Mark, LMT Percussion Ensemble and the Love Music Trust. You gave a great performance at the RNCM Day of Percussion on Sunday, 7th February 2016, a composer couldn't ask for any more at a World Premiere of a new commission." www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/drum-sweat-and-tears-young-musicians-rai... www.lovemusictrust.com/world-premiere-for-percussion-ensemble-at-rncm/  |