“One of Scotland’s finest talents of the younger generation.”

THE SCOTSMAN

Alasdair Nicolson was born in Inverness in 1961 and brought up on the Isle of Skye and the Black Isle. His first musical experiences were in traditional music before going on to study at the University of Edinburgh. An award-winning composer, he is now regarded as one of Scotland’s most important new musical voices.

He has written music for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC SSO, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Joanna Macgregor, Catherine Wyn Rogers and Malcolm Martineau, the Emperor Quartet and the City of London Sinfonia amongst others and in 1993 his Cradle Song of the Disappeared was chosen to represent Scotland at the International Music Forum in Kiev.

Whilst his first commissons came immediately after he finished his studies, he began his career by combining composition with work in theatre and opera as musical director, conductor and repetiteur. It was in the late 80s and early 90s that he came to wider attention as winner of the IBM Composers' Prize and, following this success, he received commissions from the UK and abroad. Nicolson has gone on to work with some of the world's best orchestras, ensembles and soloists. His music is widely performed and broadcast and it has won critical acclaim for its clarity, craftsmanship and individuality. He is now regarded as one of Scotland's foremost composers. As well as his compositional work Alasdair has been involved with many organisations as a creative producer. He is currently Artistic Director of the St Magnus International Festival and Director of the St Magnus Composers' Course as well as being Artistic Director of his own ensemble The Assembly Project. He is currently working as a curator for one of SCOT:lands for Edinburgh's Hogmanay. Previously he has worked as Artistic Director of Bath International Music Festival, Sound Inventors, Northlands Festival and Platform Festival.

“Nicolson is not only a maker, but also a shaker. His creating of festivals, his performing, his work in the theatre and his projects enlivening others interest in music are carried out with boundless enthusiasm and tireless energy and a good deal of natural charisma. He is one of the new breed of artists whose world of influence and interest is wide and ever growing” - The Sunday Times