Nationality: British
Born: b. 1954
Education/Training: studied composition with John Tavener as a young woman; attended Cambridge University and studied with Robin Holloway
Notable Compositions: operas include A Night at the Chinese Opera, The Vanishing Bridegroom and Blond Eckbert; King Harald's Saga; The welcome arrival of rain for orchestra; Tiger Under the Table for chamber ensemble; Piano Trio Two
Assignments:
taught composition at Glasgow's University and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; Fromm Foundation Visiting Professor at Harvard University in 2004; Research Professor at Cardiff University; has also had visiting professorships at Oxford University and Princeton University
Curious Facts:
commissions include collaboration with Margaret Williams on a one-hour television opera Armida commissioned by BBC's Channel 4; woman.life.song, a song cycle commissioned for Jessye Norman; We are Shadows, written for Sir Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and three choruses