Composers
Paul Mealor
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Born: 1975
Paul Mealor’s music has rapidly entered the repertoire of choirs and singers around the world; his music has been described as having, ‘serene beauty, fastidious craftsmanship and architectural assuredness… Music of deep spiritual searching that always asks questions, offers answers and fills the listener with hope…’. Mealor was catapulted to international attention when 2.5 billion people heard his motet, Ubi caritas, performed at the Royal Wedding Ceremony of His Royal Highness Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey, 29th April 2011. Mealor studied composition privately from an early age with John Pickard, at the University of York with Nicola LeFanu (1994-2002) and in Copenhagen with Hans Abrahamsen (1998-99). Since 2003 he has taught at the University of Aberdeen, where he is currently Reader in Composition, and has held visiting professorships in composition at institutions in Scandinavia and the United States. For a complete biography, click here.
Key Works: - Stabat Mater
(2009; soprano, choir, strings) - Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal
(2010; choir) - Ubi Caritas et Amor
(2011; choir) - Wherever You Are
(2011; voices, piano/strings)
| Career Highlights: - 1994-2002 studies in York and Copenhagen
- 2003 joins music department at the University of Aberdeen
- 2011 Ubi Caritas performed at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
- 2011 release of album 'A Tender Light'
- 2011 Wherever You Are premiered at the Royal Albert Hall and the single release reaches No. 1 at Christmas
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Critical Acclaim: 'One of the most important composers to have emerged in Welsh Music since William Mathias… a real and original talent… Music of serene beauty, fastidious craftsmanship and architectural assuredness… Music of deep spiritual searching that always asks questions, offers answers and fills the listener with hope… - New York Times
'His work is marked by something outside of himself that is beautifully spatial and evocative of landscape. Paul Mealor's sacred music illuminates both our past and our future' - The Guardian
Full Biography: Paul Mealor has been described as, 'the most important composer to have
emerged in Welsh choral music since William Mathias' (New York Times, 2001) and became the first classical composer to hold both the classical and pop chart No 1's at the same time in December 2011 with Wherever You Are, his piece for The Military Wives Choir and Gareth Malone. It was nominated for Best British Single in the 2012 BRIT Awards and has been named by the Official Charts Company as the fastest selling single since Elton John's Candle in the Wind. He was also voted the nation's favourite living composer during the 2012 Classic FM Hall of Fame.
Born in St Asaph, North Wales, in 1975, Mealor studied composition with William Mathias and later with John Pickard, at the University of York (BA 1997, PhD 2002), and in Copenhagen with Hans Abrahamsen. His music has been commissioned and performed at many festivals and by many orchestras and choruses, and broadcast on every major TV and Radio station throughout the world. Since 2003 he has been Professor of Composition at the University of Aberdeen. Mealor was catapulted to international stardom in 2011 when 2.5 billion heard his motet Ubi Caritas, performed at the Royal Wedding Ceremony of His Royal Highness Prince William and Catherine Middleton (now TRH The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge). It since topped the Classical singles charts in the USA, UK, Australia, France and New Zealand.
In July 2011, Mealor signed to Decca Records and signed a publishing deal with Novello & Co.. His first album for Decca, A Tender Light - a collection of sacred anthems recorded by Tenebrae and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - spent six weeks at No 1 of the Specialist Classical Charts. He is currently preparing his second album for Decca and has contributed new works to a number of other Decca albums, including his song In My Dreams for X factor star Jonjo Kerr and The Military Wives Choir, which entered the pop charts at number one, knocking Bruce Springsteen off the top spot; De Profundis for the St Petersburg Chamber Choir on the album Tranquillity, and the first ever musical setting of St Francis' prayer, You Are The Holy Lord God for Friar Alessandro's debut album.
Mealor has just completed Crucifixus - a large oratorio for baritone, choir and orchestra - which will receive its premiere at St Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen on 11th November, and is currently working on a number of works for chorus, including a large work for the Rodolfus Choir, an anthem to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the founding of St Andrews University and a new work for BBC's Songs of Praise. He has recently appeared in the film, Shining Night - a documentary on the music of American composer Morten Lauridsen - and has just finished filming a programme on the music of Benjamin Britten for release next year.
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