Huw Watkins
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Country of origin: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Birthday: July 13, 1976
Upcoming Performances
Symphony No. 2
Conductor: Gemma New
Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales
October 24, 2024 | Cardiff (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) , BBC Hoddinott Hall
About Huw Watkins
Watkins’s argument — full of surprises, although easily followed — began with a throbbing crotchet pulse led by the violas, layered above with curling phrases biting each other’s tails. From this point Watkins built a fast, exciting, harmonically plush edifice, rich in calls and responses, and spiralling climaxes cut off to reveal thoughtful musings percolating underneath.
- Geoff Brown on Symphony, The Times
Huw Watkins was born in Wales in 1976 and studied piano with Peter Lawson at Chetham’s School of Music and composition with Robin Holloway, Alexander Goehr and Julian Anderson at Cambridge and the Royal College of Music. In 2001 he was awarded the Constant and Kit Lambert Junior Fellowship at the Royal College of Music, where he later taught composition. He currently teaches composition at the Royal Academy of Music.
Watkins has written concertos for a number of high-profile soloists, including the widely acclaimed Violin Concerto (2010) for Alina Abragimova, premiered by BBC Symphony Orchestra with Edward Gardner. London Symphony Orchestra has commissioned two concertos: London Concerto (2005) and the Flute Concerto (2013) for Adam Walker, premiered under Daniel Harding in 2014. His longstanding relationship with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales has resulted in a number of works, including a Piano Concerto (2001-5) premiered in 2002 with the composer at the piano, and a Double Concerto (2004-5) premiered by Philip Dukes (viola) and Josephine Knight (cello). As Composer in Association, Watkins wrote the Cello Concerto (2016) for his brother Paul Watkins, premiered at the BBC Proms under Thomas Søndergård, Spring (2017) for orchestra premiered with Ryan Wigglesworth, and The Moon for chorus and orchestra, which premieres at the 2019 Proms. In 2017, the Hallé Orchestra commissioned Watkins’ Symphony No. 1, premiered under Music Director Sir Mark Elder. Following this exceptional premiere, the Hallé co-commissioned with BBC NOW Watkins' Symphony No. 2 (2021), recipient of the prestigious Sky Arts Classical Music award in 2022.
A wealth of chamber music is central to Watkins’ output, complementing his parallel career as a pianist. His solo violin Partita (2006) was written for Alina Ibragimova and the viola Fantasy (2006) was written for Lawrence Power. Long-time supporters the Nash Ensemble commissioned a Horn Trio (2008), and his String Quartet (2013) for the Carducci Quartet was a commission from the Manchester Chamber Concerts Society. Among works for his brother Paul Watkins is Blue Shadows Fall (2012-13) commissioned by Chamber Music Society Lincoln Center, who co-commissioned Watkins’ Piano Quintet with Wigmore Hall, premiered in April 2018. Wakins’ Four Fables (2018), commissioned by clarinettist Robert Plane and the Gould Piano Trio, received its premiere at the Three Choirs Festival and has received numerous repeat performances. Seven Inventions for piano and marimba was written for Colin Currie and premiered at the 2019 East Neuk Festival in Scotland with the composer at the piano. The duo will perform the work in a number of concerts in upcoming seasons, with performances scheduled at Wigmore Hall as well as in Ireland and the US.
Watkins is increasingly recognised as a sensitive composer for the voice. In My Craft or Sullen Art (2007) for tenor and string quartet, was written for Mark Padmore and the Petersen Quartet and premiered at Wigmore Hall, and Five Larkin Songs (2009-10) for soprano and piano, written for Carolyn Sampson, won a British Composer Award. He has written two song cycles for Ruby Hughes: Remember (2014) for soprano and string orchestra, and Echo (2017) for soprano and piano, which was commissioned jointly by Carnegie Hall and the Presteigne Festival. His Four Sonnets (2014) for tenor and piano premiered at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival in 2014 with Mark Padmore. Watkins has a growing body of choral works written for, among others, Stille Antico and the Choir of King’s College Cambridge, who commissioned a new carol for the 2017 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Music Theatre Wales commissioned two chamber operas, both with libretti by David Harsent: Crime Fiction (2008) followed by In the Locked Room (2011-12), a co-commission with Scottish Opera which received a new production at Staatsoper Hamburg in 2015 and at the Royal College of Music in July 2018.
At the 2022 Presteigne Festival in Wales, Watkins was a featured composer.
As one of the UK’s finest pianists Watkins has premiered works by Oliver Knussen, Tansy Davies, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Michael Zev Gordon and has performed concertos with numerous leading orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta. His recordings include chamber music discs on Chandos, Signum and Nimbus; Alexander Goehr’s piano cycle Symmetry Disorders Reach on Wergo; and music by Knussen on NMC. Watkins was awarded the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Elise L. Stoeger Prize in 2016.
Watkins’ own music has been recorded for NMC: In my craft or sullen art, a chamber music disc, was widely praised following its release in 2012, and a second disc of orchestral music, Symphony, was released in 2018. His Five Larkin Songs were recorded by Carolyn Sampson and Joseph Middleton on BIS in 2020 and his captivating song cycle Echo in 2023 with acclaimed soprano Ruby Hughes.
For inquiries regarding hiring Huw as a pianist, please contact his agent Laura Tear
Worklist
Gallery
© Benjamin Ealovega
© Benjamin Ealovega
© Benjamin Ealovega
© Benjamin Ealovega
© Benjamin Ealovega
For high resolution photos, please contact: infoservice@schott-music.com
Chronology
1976
Born in Pontypool, Wales
1992-94
Studied piano and composition at Chetham's School of Music
1994-97
Studied composition with Alexander Goehr and Robin Holloway at Cambridge University
1997-98
Studied composition with Julian Anderson at the Royal College of Music, London
1999
Premiere of "Sonata for Cello and Eight Instruments" (Nash Ensemble)
2001
Awarded Constant and Kit Lambert Junior Fellowship at the Royal College of Music, London
2002
Premiere of "Piano Concerto" (BBC National Orchestra of Wales)
2003
Appointed Professor of Composition at the Royal College of Music, London
2005
Signed to Schott
Premiere of "London Concerto" for violin, bassoon, harp and orchestra (London Symphony Orchestra)
Premiere of "Double Concerto" for viola, cello and orchestra (BBC Proms)
Premiere of "Rondo" for chamber ensemble (Birmingham Contemporary Music Group)
Appointed Jerwood Associate Composer with Music Theatre Wales
2006
Premiere of "Partita" for solo violin (Alina Ibragimova)
2007
Premiere of In my craft or sullen art (Mark Padmore and the Petersen Quartet)
2009
Premiere of "Crime Fiction" chamber opera (Music Theatre Wales)
2010
Composer-in-Residence at the Festival "Spannungen" in Heimbach
2011
Premiere of "Violin Concerto" (Alina Abragimova)
2012
Premiere of "In the Locked Room" chamber opera (Music Theatre Wales)
2012-14
Composer in the House with Orchestra of the Swan (position created by PRS for Music Foundation in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Society)
2013
'Huw Watkins Day' at Wigmore Hall
Composer in Residence at The International Music Seminar Prussia Cove in Cornwall, UK
2014
Premiere of Flute Concerto (Adam Walker, London Symphony Orchestra)
2015-2018
Composer-in-Association with BBC National Orchestra of Wales
2017
Premiere of Symphony No. 1 (Hallé Orchestra)
2017
Commisioned to write for the Nine Lessons and Carols service at Kings College Cambridge.
2021
Premiere of Symphony No. 2 (Hallé Orchestra)
2022
Awarded the Sky Arts Award for Classical Music for his Symphony No. 2
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Performances
Symphony No. 2
Conductor: Gemma New
Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales
October 24, 2024 | Cardiff (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) , BBC Hoddinott Hall
Broken Consort
December 2, 2024 | Portsmouth (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) , The Guildhall
Speak Seven Seas
February 17, 2025 | Huddersfield (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) , St Paul’s Hall
Dawning
Conductor: Angus Webster
Orchestra: Pražská komorní filharmonie (Prague Philharmonia)
March 4, 2025 | Prague (Czech Republic) , Dvorak Hall — National Premiere
Broken Consort
May 16, 2025 | Sheffield (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) , Crucible Playhouse