MARTIN ELLERBY
Martin Ellerby was born in Worksop, England in 1957. After graduating from the London College of Music he studied composition with Joseph Horovitz and counterpoint with W. S. Lloyd Webber at the Royal College of Music. Following this he studied privately with Wilfred Josephs, later becoming the composer’s amanuensis.
He has written in most forms including several sinfonias and concertante works, music for strings, several instrumental sonatas and suites, songs and choral music including a Mass and Carol Symphony for choir and wind orchestra. He has also written test pieces for all the key brass band contests (Tristan Encounters, Elgar Variations, Genesis, Electra etc.) and much repertoire for concert band (Symphony in Five Movements, Tributes, Paris Portraits, Menorcan Dances etc.). Additionally he has composed examination and sight reading material for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and other educational bodies and publishers.
His music has been broadcast and recorded worldwide by leading ensembles and performed at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Barbican and Wigmore Halls in London; Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center in New York City; Leipzig’s Gewandhaus and St. Thomas Church in Germany; La Madeleine in Paris and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. He has been twice represented at the BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts at the RAH (broadcast on BBC Radio 3). A 7 year post as civilian composer-in-residence to the Regimental Band of Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards resulted in much music for specific State events, Royal occasions and overseas tours.
Amongst his awards and citations are the W. S. Lloyd Webber Director’s Prize, the Westminster Prize, the Arts Council of Great Britain Dio Fund Award, a WCM Allcard Award, the George Butterworth and Norman Sykes Memorial Fund Awards, the Freedom of the City of London, the Royal Military School of Music 2008 Dr. Martin Ellerby Class, the 2012 BUMA International Brass Award (Holland), and, in his 60th birthday year (2017), the John Henry Iles Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree (DMA) from the University of Salford, an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree (Hon DLitt) from the University of West London and five fellowships. He is External Examiner to the Royal Air Force Music Services (RAF Northolt) and Honorary Principal of the Victoria College of Music Examinations Board. Overseas lecture tours include North and South America, Europe and Australasia. His hobbies include reading, films, walking and cooking.