John Pickard's boyhood experience playing in his local brass band gave him a rare familiarity with writing for brass instruments.
Performer Biography
The Brodowski Quartet, based in London, won the First Prize of the Royal Overseas League Competition in 2008 and were described as 'a group to watch out for' by The Independent.
Composer's Artistic Vision
John Pickard's music is not bound by styles or trends, instead engaging with the past and present through complex but recognizable tonality.
Composition History
John Pickard's First String Quartet was commissioned by philosopher Geoffrey Hunter and premiered by the Britten Quartet in 1992.
Composer's Artistic Vision
John Pickard's approach to string quartet writing focuses on contrapuntal textures and avoids 'effects' that distort the basic quartet sound, treating all players as equals.
Composer Biography
John Pickard, born in Burnley in 1963, was Paul Mealor's first composition teacher.
Composer Biography
John Pickard studied with Welsh composer William Mathias and Dutch composer Louis Andriessen.
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