with Additional Highlights from 6 of the
Inaugural TWA Launch Compositional Celebrants
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Craig Adams –
A Lancashire lad who first learned to play the piano at the age of 3,
Craig trained at Mountview Theatre School with a BA (Hons) in Acting &
Musical Theatre, receiving two scholarships (i) a Three year Mackintosh
Foundation for Sports and Arts Scholarship winner as well as (ii) a
Mountview Singing one. His theatre credits include Covering and
playing Sky on 'Mamma Mia's International Tour (has it not had many?),
Jack in 'Into the Woods' (Byre Theatre, St Andrews), John Hinkley in
'Assassins' (Landor Theatre, London), Cover Tony in the tour of 'Masterclass'
with Jane Lapotaire, Liseo in 'Life’s a Dream' (Camden People’s
Theatre), Christopher Twink in 'Tess' (Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield and
Savoy Theatre, London), Ray Pain in 'Let Him Have Justice' (Cochrane
Theatre London, for the now defunct Covent Garden Festival), Prince
Charming in 'Cinderella' at Milton Keynes Theatre and The Pretty Prince
in 'Spell' (Wimbledon Studio Theatre). He was also the Composer and
Musical Director on 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'The Frog Prince'
(Edinburgh Festival) and 'Spell'. Craig was the Musical Director on 'Oh!
What a Lovely War' (Bridewell Theatre, London) & Composer & Lyricist for
'Soho Story - A Ballet', 'The Nativity' and 'Let Him Have Justice'.
His television credits include 'Casualty' (BBC), 'EastEnders' (BBC),
'Coronation Street' (Granada TV) and 'Hollyoaks' (Mersey TV). You
will find Craig on the following recordings 'Let Him Have Justice'
original cast recording and Kevin in a new musical version of Arnold
Wesker’s play 'The Kitchen'. At a presentation of new musicals by
Perfect Pitch, TWA judge Mark Shenton wrote: “As Oscar Hammerstein II so
sagely put it in a lyric in
The Sound of
Music, “A song is no song till you sing it.” And a show is no
show till you produce it. A whole generation of aspiring British
composers are being denied the valuable opportunity to learn and grow
through production. But last night, at least, we heard that a few of
them can at least write good songs, like
Craig Adams – juggling a night job performing in the tour of
Mamma Mia! In the inaugural TWA programme, First
Time, Craig's 'Andronicus Returns' and 'But If I Bow'
were magnificent examples of determination, intelligence and passion
showing clear hope for the future of the art of song-making in
contemporary Britain. Most recently Craig served as Musical
Director on Kerry Ellis' one woman show as part of the British Songbook
at the Shaw Theatre, created a magnificent score for 'Battlement'
at RADA, a version of Shakespeare's Hamlet for young people and is
currently collaborating on a new musical version of Therese Racquin. |
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Sarah Bodalbhai – (pronounced Bod-al-bye) Recommended by Sarah-Louise Young, Sarah graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 2007 where she read Music. Previously she studied piano with Laura Roberts at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and was awarded The Keyboard Instrument Prize on leaving in 2003. Sarah currently works as a piano teacher, and pianist playing in a variety of styles including classical, pop, indie/rock, jazz, musical theatre and cabaret. As MD/pianist, theatre credits include Anything You Can Do! (Kadmes Theatre at the Greenwich Playhouse, August 2008), as AMD/pianist: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Cambridge University ADC at the Edinburgh Fringe 2007) and Aristophanes' Clouds (Flytheatre at The Bridewell, March 2008). She is rehearsal pianist for Eyebrow Productions' Showtime Challenge, rehearsing Crazy For You in 48 hours and performing it at the London Palladium on October 18th to raise money for charity Cecily's Fund. She has played for a couple of cabaret shows for Theatre Delicatessen and is regular pianist for cabaret night Soiree at the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club. Other performance projects include The Night Climbers (contemporary free improvisation trio with saxophonist Oscar Lomas and drummer Dan Paton), a jazz functions band, a piano trio and performances at The Little Proms at the Spice of Life in Soho, which aims to bring classical music to different audiences in a more chilled-out, pub setting. Sarah has always enjoyed writing pop songs, and composed some music for theatre during her time at Cambridge, but has only recently become more seriously interested in composing. Her creation of songs to original lyrics (the delightfully comic Sprung and Effimero, (so dramatically wrought in Italian) in TWA's First Time programme were hailed by all who heard them. |
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Alfie Granger-Howell –
‘A wunderkind’
I muttered coming off the phone after speaking to Alfie. (Alfie
is the chap to the left in the photo.)
He had been recommended by the miraculous Frank Lazarus, who, himself,
had spent time teaching Alfie composition at the Royal Academy of Music
from where he (Alfie that is) graduated in 2007 after working primarily
under Dick Walter and James Brett. Since that time, it is quite
clear that Alfie has, quite simply taken off. Indeed, taken off …
BIG TIME. A composer of orchestral music, electro-acoustic
soundscapes and electronic dance music, Alfie’s recent work for film and
TV includes work with director/producer Simon Moseley, and director Kara
Miller. TV and online advertising clients include Perfect Getaways and
Blue Sky Construction. Alfie has also been collaborating on several
projects with motion graphics artist Zoltan Ray. As if that wasn’t
enough, Alfie is also a much sought-after dance music producer, most
notably as one half of
‘Solarity’ whose recent releases on various labels have gained radio
and dance floor play from some of the world’s biggest DJs (Tiesto, Ferry
Corsten, Dave Dresden). Alfie displays a remarkable and
astute variety on his musical samplings page – indeed for anyone of ANY
age. Do yourself a favour: rush
here. The (as Ian Carlyle wrote 'hugely talented')
Alfie was the proud recipient of the first Tim Williams Award for Best
Composition for his thrilling 'We Wear the Mask'. |
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Rachel Lyske -
Rachel is refreshingly direct and charming on the phone. We are
privileged to have her as a member of the inaugural JDI/TWA team.
Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music's Media and Applied
Music course with a first class honours degree in 2006 Rachel has been
working and living in London, Berlin and Barcelona. Rachel has
enjoyed being an assistant to the film composer Trevor Jones and recent
independent projects include a short film The Snow White File,
based on a tune from the musical adaptation of "Snow White" which
Rachel also composed. Since its premiere in Berlin and at London's
BAFTA
The Snow White File has been showcased in several film festivals
including the LA Short Film Festive and Bradford International Film
Festival. Other projects include Fodors' feature film Hamlet, a
documentary on a northern Italian village for Angel Productions
Cascina Papaveri and conducting, arranging and vocal coaching on a
variety of albums for recording artists including Marco Polo and the
international children's charity Kiwanis. Rachel additionally works as
a music teacher, session singer and runs two businesses: One, a music
production company based in London “The MuSOS” and the other, a
little more randomly, “Sol Smoothies”, a smoothie shop on the
beach in Barcelona. Let there be no doubt: that was
certainly an added sweetner … LOL … Please click
here for but a few samples of Rachel’s glorious talent. I have a
feeling these are somewhat out of latest date, but, still, they will
give some little indication of Rachel’s glorious and varied
multi-talents. Rachel was responsible for the magnificent songs
'When I Was' and the duet 'I Know' which won the first TWA
for Best Lyric Inspired by a Classical/Established Source.
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Tarek Merchant – A graduate with a first class degree in music from the University of York and a secondary degree from the Actor/Musician programme at Rose Bruford, Tarek is currently the show MD (told ya) and an ensemble player in ALW’s ‘Sunset Boulevard’. Tarek is also a member of Mercury Musicals and was recommended by the wonderful Harry Waller. Having composed music for a number of productions including "Romeo and Juliet", "Twelfth Night" and "Sleeping Beauty" (all for The Works Theatre Company), Tarek worked alongside Max Stafford Clark on Out of Joint’s ‘Macbeth’ and even took part in an improvisational programme, ‘Instant Epic’ in the Czech Republic. This very talented man is a multi-threat, playing a wide variety of instruments including piano, violin, flute and saxophone. You can hear a hugely entertaining excerpt from Tarek’s 10 Minute Musical at the Greenwich Playhouse under Fiona Laird’s remit here. Terek's witty and original creation of 'Macy Dz' and 'HMS Foudroyant' in FIRST TIME quite rightfully brought down the capacity house. |
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Nick Pegdan –
Nick is a teacher of music and drama in London after having graduated
with a music degree from the University of Chichester and a graduate
degree from the London School of Musical Theatre. Nick plays the
piano, guitar, clarinet, harmonica and drums and has also participated
in MTM’s (Musical Theatre Matters) MOS (Month of Sundays), conducted in
association with LSW’s long-standing partners, RADA. Nick now
lectures on Music at Arts Educational. There is no question but
that what finally clinched Nick’s selection was a review for a
children’s musical he wrote entitled ‘Scenic Route’ and which has most
recently been revived at London's Roundhouse: ‘It is
Nick Pegden’s bravely assured and uplifting music that is the jewel in
the crown of this show. It is rare to see a new musical and enjoy nearly
every song. It is also rare to hear such an impressive score played on
just a single piano. It is especially rare to leave the theatre humming
the tunes and wishing that they hadn’t ended. All of which I and my 7
year old guest felt after hearing Nick Pegden’s music which resonated
with a Kander and Ebb-like wit and Sondheim-esque harmonies and
dexterous word choices. The show boasts a repertoire of ranging styles
and genres of music all of which refuse to jar and never appear to be
added for the sake of it: a tender and subtle love song one minute (we
actually almost forget that the singers are meant to be sheep!),
followed by a ‘bluesy’ number by a hungry wolf … followed closely with a
1940’s, ‘Baahbershop’ style, jazz number the next.” I thought:
‘Yes, we MUST have some of that!” You can see and hear more of
Nick
here. Nicks telling take on Rebecca Applin's wonderful lyric
'On Tamil Hill' succeeded in winning the magnificent Phillip
Browne the first TWA Award for Best Interpretation of Song. It was
truly a winning and magnificent collaboration celebrated by all. |