Introducing Emerging Voices 2024-25
We announce the three composers who will take part in the inaugural edition of our new talent development programme, supporting new voices to write music for vocal ensemble.
We’re delighted to announce that Christian Drew, Rosemary Shapes Tickle and James Wetherley-Buss have been selected for the inaugural edition of Emerging Voices. This season-long scheme will support the composers with a paid training programme, consisting of writing, workshop time and mentoring, including from award-winning British composer Laurence Osborn. Christian, Rosemary and James were selected from a very strong field, with 90 applications received from an incredibly talented range of music creators.
Devised following learnings from our last three years of commissioning, Emerging Voices specifically seeks to support composers who have not have professional experience of writing for choir or vocal ensemble. The programme is designed to offer space and time to allow composers to develop their skills in writing for voices, without the pressure of a final performance outcome. During the scheme, Christian, Rosemary and James will write a short work for the Consort, have the opportunity to workshop and rehearse the piece, receive guidance from Laurence Osborn, and mentoring from Rory McCleery, and The Marian Consort team.
Rory McCleery, Artistic Director of The Marian Consort, said: “We're excited to announce our inaugural cohort of Emerging Voices participants, selected from a very strong field of applicants. I'm looking forward to working closely with Christian, Rosemary and James, and with Laurence Osborn, getting to know more about their distinctive compositional voices, and, with the help of our wonderful singers, developing some really interesting and innovative new approaches to music for vocal ensemble.”
Meet the composers
Christian Drew is a composer and performer based in London. His music layers influences form baroque, renaissance and romantic music with shoegaze, jazz, electronic and folk. As a composer he has worked with ensembles like the London Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Plus Minus Ensemble, Apartment House, Psappha Ensemble, EXAUDI and the Shout at Cancer Choir, with performances at the Barbican Centre, Cafe OTO, Wigmore Hall, Music We’d Like to Hear, 840 Series and Cheltenham Festival. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the University of Southampton with Laurence Crane and Matthew Shlomowitz. christiandrew.com
Rosemary Shapes Tickle is an emerging composer, producer and human with an interest in music about stories, environments and journeys. In addition to composing concert music for solo instrumentalists, small and large instrumental ensembles and voice, she produces soundtracks and electronic music under the moniker Lying Pink. A 2024 RNCM Gold Medal finalist, Rosemary is studying a MMus in Composition, thanks to financial support from the Vaughan Williams Foundation. Her piece 'Membranes' for 13 musicians was recently performed as part of the inaugural Sydney Conservatorium Winter School in Composition. Rosemary currently lives in Salford. When not composing, they can be found drinking tea or napping. roshapestickle.com
James Wetherley-Buss a composer and multi-instrumentalist, originally from Kent but now based in Manchester, whose music for orchestral forces has been described as “bold and immediate”. James first began composing while at the University of Liverpool and then went on to complete a postgraduate degree in composition at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he was shortlisted for the college’s Gold Medal award in composition. Following this, he was an inaugural 360° Ruth Sutton Fellow with Manchester Camerata. Notable works include those for flute and pitch-shifting electronics, guitar with microtonal string tuning and a collaboration with poet Chris Redmond commissioned by Manchester Camerata that champions positive stories of efforts to combat the climate crisis by communities across the globe. jamesweatherleybuss.com
Christian Drew
Rosemary Shapes Tickle
James Wetherley-Buss
The Marian Consort is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Network Partner, supported by PPL