Errollyn Wallen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Errollyn Wallen
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Wallen at Snape Maltings
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| Born | 10 April 1958 |
| Years active | 1976–present errollynwallen.com |
| Relatives | Byron Wallen (brother) |
Errollyn Wallen (born 10 April 1958) is a talented composer and musician. She was born in Belize and moved to London, England, as a child.
In 2024, King Charles III chose her to be the Master of the King's Music. This is a very important job for a musician in the United Kingdom. Errollyn Wallen is the first black woman to hold this position. She was also the first black woman to have her music played at the Proms in 1998, which is a famous music festival.
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About Errollyn Wallen
Errollyn Wallen moved from Belize to London, England, when she was two years old. Her parents moved to New York, but she and her three siblings stayed in London. They were raised by their aunt and uncle. One of her brothers is the trumpeter Byron Wallen.
She went to a boarding school and started learning piano. She has said that her uncle helped her discover her love for poetry and music.
Her Journey to Music
Before becoming a composer, Errollyn trained as a dancer in London and New York. She studied at the Dance Theatre of Harlem for a while. However, she later decided to focus on composing music and returned to the United Kingdom.
She studied music at Goldsmiths, University of London and King's College London. She also earned a special degree from King's College, Cambridge. Even before her studies at Cambridge, she had already started composing music professionally.
In November 2023, Errollyn Wallen published her memoir, Becoming a Composer. A memoir is like a personal story or autobiography. The book shares her journey and encourages young musicians to follow their dreams. It talks about facing challenges with kindness and working together.
Errollyn Wallen is currently the Master of the King's Music. She was appointed by King Charles III in 2024. She lives in Orkney, a group of islands in Scotland.
Her Music
Errollyn Wallen's music is a mix of different styles. It includes classical music and popular songwriting. Her pieces have been performed in many famous concert halls and theatres around the world.
Important Compositions
Her first big piece for an orchestra was a concerto for percussion. A concerto is a piece of music for a solo instrument and an orchestra. This piece was played at the BBC Young Musician competition in 1994. It was also performed at the BBC Proms in 1998. This made her the first black female composer to have her work featured at that festival.
Some of her other works include:
- Jordan Town (2001), which is a "multi-media song cycle."
- Dervish (2001) for cello and piano.
- La Luga (2002) for a group of five guitars.
- The opera Another America: Earth (2003).
- All the Blues I See (2004) for flute and a string quartet.
In 2006, she even wrote a song with astronaut Steve MacLean while he was on the space shuttle STS-115.
Her opera The Silent Twins was first performed in 2007. In June 2008, her choral symphony Carbon 12- A Choral Symphony was premiered by the Welsh National Opera.
In 2010, her piano quintet Music for Tigers was played at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Music for Special Events
In 2012, her song "Daedalus" was used as the theme for the BBC drama One Night. Also, her song "Principia," which has lyrics about science, was part of the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony.
In 2017, her work Mighty River was performed. This piece marked 200 years since the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in England.
Her Piano Concerto was first performed on 4 November 2022. Her choral work REIGN was commissioned for the 2025 Women of the World Festival and premiered on International Women's Day 2025.
Her orchestral work The Elements was played at the first night of the 2025 BBC Proms.
Recordings and Publications
In 2004, Errollyn Wallen released an album of her own songs and piano music called Errollyn. Her music has also been featured on albums by other artists, like the Brodsky Quartet.
Her music is published by Peters Edition, a well-known music publisher.
Awards and Recognition
Errollyn Wallen has received many awards for her contributions to music.
- She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007.
- She was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2020.
- She received an Ivor Novello Award, becoming the first woman to win this award for classical music.
In 2018, she was named one of BBC's 100 Women. In 2020, she received the Incorporated Society of Musicians Distinguished Musician Award.
In January 2022, she was featured as BBC Radio 3's Composer of the Week. In July 2024, she was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, where she shared her favorite music, book, and luxury item.
On 12 November 2024, Errollyn Wallen was inducted into the Fellowship of The Ivors Academy. This honor celebrates her achievements in classical composition.
Academic Roles
In October 2020, Errollyn Wallen became a visiting professor of composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. This means she teaches and shares her knowledge with students there.
See also
In Spanish: Errollyn Wallen para niños
