Biography

Owen Bourne, music composer.

Owen is a leading young British composer. He has a particular interest in cross-genre collaborations, revitalising traditional forms and a commitment to music education in many forms.

Aged 19 the society for the promotion of new music (Spnm) shortlisted his music for the 'Discover Denmark Festival' with the BCMG at the BBC Pebble Mill Studios. Steve Martland then commissioned a Marimba Concerto for the Goldberg Ensemble with BBC Young Musician winner Adrian Spillett as soloist.

He was trained on the 'Joint Course' between the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University under John Casken, and through postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Paul Patterson. He completed his Masters degree having been awarded the 'Mortimer Development Award' by John Suchet and the 'Friends of the
Royal Academy of Music'.

He has written over 100 works including major concertos for leading instrumentalists, a large ‘Concerto for Orchestra’ and his First Symphony. Cross - genre collaborations include ‘Empire Chambers’ for the Hackney Empire and Manchester club outfit ‘Norvun Devolution’, and an installation commission for the National Gallery. A major choral work for children’s chorus, soloists and orchestra ‘East Meets West’ was composed for a 2004 tour of Jersey. 2006 included collaborations with the World Street-Dance Champions ‘Flawless’ in Trafalgar Square, and an Organ Concerto for the 14th Century Bridlington Priory. He was Featured composer at the first ever ‘Rosemary Branch Music Festival’ in April 2009. He is Creative Director and Chair in Composition with the dynamic EMFEB Symphony which he co-founded, and is Head of Music at ‘Stoke Newington School’ in London. http://www.sns.hackney.sch.uk

His music has been performed internationally, received rave reviews, and featured on BBC London. His ‘Pub Opera’ The Salisbury Songs drew wide and triumphant acclaim. This work highlighted Owen’s close association with painter Sam Jefferys, whose Art he passionately champions. He has recently completed 4 String Quartets and 6 Piano Sonatas and is currently working on Electronic music leading to performances of ‘Diary of a Madman’, ‘Chambers of the Sun’ and ‘The Magic Flute’; an Opera (based on the Mozart) for electronics, singers and visuals. Owen is represented by ‘One Voice One Vision’ www.1voice1vision.co.uk.

He lives in North London and has a son, Marcus Bourne.