Bio

LAURENCE ROMAN

Laurence Roman has composed extensively for both the concert hall and stage. His composing output prior to disability in 2018 includes: a setting of Psalm 117 for the Royal School of Church Music (2017), The Dreamland Tree premiered in the Scottish Parliament/Holyrood, Concertino for Flute and Orchestra (2013) commissioned by the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Columba Canticles (2013) commissioned to mark Derry’s status as UK City of Culture and performed at Stormont Parliament buildings; Coshquin (2012) in commemoration of the 1990 Coshquin bombing, Guitar Quintet (2011) commissioned for Carlos Bonell by the Derry City Guitar Festival; Five Egyptian Canticles (2010) premiered at Michigan State University; Struwwelpeter commissioned by the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust as part of the St Andrews Music Festival and Cautionary Verses. Laurence’s Concertino for Viola and Orchestra was performed by the Southbank Sinfonia in 2008 and his Three Summer Pastorals, Concert Variations and Carpathian Dances were premiered in Covent Garden. Laurence’s Missa Brevis was performed at St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast and his Isabella and the Pot of Basil was featured at the 2006 Buxton Opera Festival. Laurence’s musical Mates was staged at the Edinburgh Fringe and subsequently transferred to the Landor Theatre, London. His play Falling in Love Again transferred from the UK to Berlin where it ran for several months. More recently Laurence’s texts were used in the Royal Opera House’s 2023 performance: Least Like the Other.

Earlier compositions have included The Three Orphans and Three Hungarian Peasant Songs, commissioned by the Juice and Etone vocal ensembles, Psychocorruptor Infernalis, commissioned by the University of York Wind Orchestra and Two Stops Short of Barking, commissioned by the SPNM. His Three Postcards From Spain and Violin Sonata were premiered by the Paganini Prize-winning violinist Ara Malikian at the Colmar Festival and Carnegie Hall.

Laurence has orchestrated several recordings including: The Woman in White Suite released on EMI Records with the London Symphony Orchestra, Choral Lloyd Webber with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Songs That Got Away with Sarah Brightman and The Phantom Fantasia with the London Symphony Orchestra, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. Laurence’s opera: Ulysses – a Musical Odyssey toured Ireland and was performed in July 2009 on London’s Southbank. The work was awarded a Vivian Ellis Prize for Best New Musical.

Prior to his disability Laurence was Lecturer in Composition at Ulster University, External Examiner for the University of Aberdeen and International Jury Chair for Certame Galego de Bandas de Música. He was also Senior Lecturer in Composition at the London College of Music and Media and was, for over a decade, Music Supervisor for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.