Staff Composers

Professor Stephen Goss is Head of Composition. His music has been recorded on over 40 CDs by more than a dozen record labels, including EMI, Decca, and Telarc. Recent commissions have come from: GRAMMY® winner David Russell, cellist Natalie Clein, flautist William Bennett, The Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, London and The Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. Stephen’s collaborative project with Prof. Charles Jencks, The Garden of Cosmic Speculation (2005), for violin, cello, bass clarinet and piano, was profiled on The South Bank Show on ITV1. As a guitarist, Stephen Goss has worked with many of today’s leading composers, such as Toru Takemitsu, Hans Werner Henze and Elliott Carter. He has toured and recorded extensively with the Tetra guitar quartet, and performed alongside John Williams and Paco Peña.

Dr Matthew Sansom is composer and artist in the area of electronic music production and sound design, his work covers a broad range from beat-based electronica to installation pieces. Recent works, in contrast to his groove-based output, have explored a more direct and transparent use of sound sources (e.g. football crowds, radio broadcasts, factory sounds, location recordings). Having originally trained as a saxophonist, live performance remains an important activity for Matthew. Work in this area explores combinations of improvisation, DJ and studio skills, and live electronics. Collaborative projects with artists from the visual arts, dance and theatre are central to Matthew’s practice. His work has been performed internationally, including the Centre for Contemporary Arts (Glasgow), Korean Institute of Culture (Seoul), and t-u-b-egalerie für radiophone kunst installationen und audio-performances (Munich). Areas of theoretical interest include musical meaning and identity, and their the relationship with technology and culture.

Dr Tom Armstrong's work has been performed by leading ensembles including the Endymion Ensemble, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the New Music Players, Psappha, the Composer’s Ensemble, [rout], Trillium brass quartet and Gemini. Radio 3 broadcasts have included performances by the BBC Philharmonic and the pianist Andrew Ball. In 2007 his evening length, multi-media work, Black Maria, was staged at Sadlers Wells. Tom has recently been commissioned by the Crossness Engines Trust to write a large-scale work for choir and concert band; receiving its premiere in 2010 the new piece will involve musicians from across South East London. 

Staff Performers

Head of Performance Clive Williamson has played as soloist at the Barbican, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, St John's Smith Square, and many other venues throughout Europe and America. He has appeared on BBC2 (Music in Camera) and Channel 4 (Scipio's Dream). As an ensemble musician he is in considerable demand, working with many leading groups including the London Sinfonietta, the Composers' Ensemble, Sinfonia 21 and as a soloist with Sound Intermedia. He records regularly for BBC Radio 3 and has also recorded for West German Radio, for Netherlands Radio and on the Col Legno, Wergo and Hyperion labels. Clive has given over 50 premieres in the last three years including a number of works he has commissioned himself. His One Minute Wonders project received great critical acclaim.

Cnductor Russell Keable has established a reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting and versatile musicians. He performs with orchestras and choirs throughout the British Isles including the London Mozart Players, Manchester Camerata, Northern Ballet Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Viva and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a regular guest conductor for the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, has conducted in Prague and Paris (concerts filmed by French and British television) and recently made a highly-praised début with the George Enescu Philharmonic in Bucharest. His regular performing partners include many leading national and international soloists (including Steven Isserlis, Tasmin Little, Nikolai Demidenko, John Lill and Nicholas Daniel).