Have you seen:

Today's Featured Composer:

Rodney Newton

| music by this composer |

Rodney Newton was born in Birmingham, England in 1945 and studied at Birmingham School of Music (now Birmingham Conservatoire of which he is an honorary member). Following his studies he joined the BBC Training Orchestra in Bristol as a timpanist and percussionist, composing music for BBC radio programmes whilst there. In the early seventies, after a period of freelancing, he joined the orchestra of English National Opera (ENO) in London. He remained there for eleven years, the last five as principal timpanist. During this time he composed prolifically, establishing himself as a concert music composer of works including symphonies, tone poems, chamber music and song cycles.

In the eighties he studied film scoring with Richard Arnell and Don B Ray and in 1985 left ENO to work in films and television as a composer, arranger and musical director.

He eventually moved into higher education becoming music consultant to London International Film School and a member of the composition department at London College of Music. He has contributed to BBC radio programmes on film music and lectured at the National Film Theatre.

In recent years he has become associated with concert and brass bands. His works have been featured on the BBC�s Listen to the Band programme, in concerts by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and brass bands throughout the country.

Recent works include Kea - Portrait of a Greek Island, Dick Turpin�s Ride to York for Trombone Solo and Band, Celtic Twilight for Euphonium Solo and The Defenders for the Royal Tournament series.