Andy Scott

As a successful contemporary composer, Andy Scott integrates his composition work with his various performance projects and education activities. He works to commission, and is increasingly in demand to write for leading instrumentalists and ensembles on the world stage. Andy takes a collaborative approach to the development of a new piece, working closely with the performers and, in some cases, other creative artists to achieve a highly personal, tailored work. Self taught as a composer, Andy’s distinctive compositional voice speaks with a unique and effective mix of jazz, world music and contemporary classical elements.

Andy Scott received a British Composer Award in 2006 for his double saxophone concerto Dark Rain. In 2010 Crossing Waves, a work for solo harp, was premiered at Carnegie Hall NYC, Three Letter Word, commissioned by the Park Lane Group was premiered at the South Bank Centre London, whilst Seven Dances and No Looking Back featured on the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet Chandos CD Dances. An ongoing project with Lancashire Sinfonietta and Nicholas Kok has seen Andy commissioned to write an hour of music for strings, rhythm section and solo saxophone, with a documentary to be broadcast in 2012.

Andy is composer in residence with Foden’s Band, whose recording of his works A World Within won the British Bandsman CD of the Year in 2010. Having made an impression as a skilled writer for brass, the relationship with Foden’s has led to Andy’s works being featured on prizewinning recordings by Les Neish (tuba) and Glyn Williams (euphonium). The Bad Tempered Flute, a new album featuring Andy’s compositions, was released in 2011 on the Nimbus Alliance label. All his works are published exclusively by Astute Music, and as well as concert works, Andy has a number of compositions on the syllabi for ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall grade examinations.

Andy often has the opportunity to integrate composition and performance in his various ensembles. As Tenor Saxophonist and a founder member of the internationally acclaimed Apollo Saxophone Quartet, Andy composed several works specifically for the group. His Phantom Sweetheart, a four movement work written as part of the quartet’s black and white film project, features on their CD Words and Pictures. My Mountain Top, a moving, atmospheric composition incorporating a poem by Lemn Sissay, appears on the same recording and has subsequently been arranged for a variety of other instruments, proving to be one of Andy’s most popular works.

Andy also writes much of the material for his own large jazz funk ensemble Sax Assault, which has recorded two CDs and featured on BBC Radio 3 Jazz Notes. Andy and percussionist Dave Hassell have worked as an experimental Duo since 1996, performing internationally and releasing two albums. Andy is involved in many collaborative projects with other artists, most recently Caliente, a new trio with flautist Clare Southworth and harpist Lauren Scott, for which he writes repertoire for their unconventional trio line-up.

'Andy Scott is a hugely talented composer using his artistry to communicate fresh ideas through a traditional sound.' – Bramwell Tovey