Brendan Ashe

Brendan read English at York University, but was increasingly drawn to music.  He soon gained his L.R.A.M. in piano, and a post-graduate degree in music from Exeter University.  He has performed piano concerti by Grieg, Schumann and Gershwin; and also played violin in the World Youth Orchestra under the directorship of Aaron Copland and Rudolph Schwarz.

 
An eclectic musician, Brendan aims for diversity: he conducts choirs, including regular performances at Wells Cathedral by The Somerset Singers; directs shows in many professional theatres; composes for an extensive palette of commissions; regularly accompanies; records; and transcribes and arranges music for musicians of all ages.  He has also gained a silver disc for a pop record; composed a full-scale ‘Magnificat’; a trilogy of oratorios, 'The Waters' and ‘The Light’ and ‘The Earth’ which was premièred in 2007; conducted cabaret; written for string quartet and big-band jazz; and appeared on national television and radio.

Henry’s Revels”, a cantata to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne, received its highly acclaimed world première in the awe-inspiring surroundings of Hampton Court Palace in June, involving a massed choir of over 150 children, dancers and a band. He has also just composed a pageant for the children of Glastonbury which was performed in Glastonbury Abbey in July to an audience of over a thousand. Brendan is currently writing a commissioned choral work for Nigel Perrin’s Bath Camerata.