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. She is known for her unique music style.
Errollyn Wallen made history as the first black woman to have her music played at The Proms. This is a very famous music festival in the UK. In 2024, King Charles III chose her for a special job. She became the Master of the King's Music. This means she is the King's official musician. She is also the first black woman to hold this important position.
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About Errollyn Wallen's Life
Errollyn Wallen moved from Belize to London, England, when she was two years old. Her parents later moved to New York. Errollyn and her three brothers and sisters were raised by their aunt and uncle. One of her siblings is the famous trumpet player Byron Wallen.
She went to a boarding school as a child. Her uncle helped her discover her love for poetry and music. He encouraged her to take piano lessons.
Before becoming a composer, Errollyn trained as a dancer. She studied at dance schools in London and New York City. She even trained at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. But she later decided to focus on creating music instead.
She returned to the UK to study music. She went to Goldsmiths and King's College London. She also earned a special degree from King's College, Cambridge. Errollyn says she was already composing professionally before her studies at Cambridge.
In 2023, she published her book called Becoming a Composer. The book shares her journey and encourages young musicians. It talks about facing challenges with kindness and teamwork.
Errollyn Wallen's Music
Errollyn Wallen's music mixes different styles. She uses ideas from modern classical music. She also includes elements from popular songwriting. Her pieces have been performed in famous concert halls worldwide.
Her first big orchestral piece was for a percussionist. It was played at the BBC Young Musician competition in 1994. This same piece was later performed at the BBC Proms in 1998. This made her the first black female composer to have her work at the Proms.
Some of her other works include Jordan Town (2001) and the opera Another America: Earth (2003). An opera is a play where most of the words are sung.
In 2006, she did something amazing. She wrote a song with astronaut Steve MacLean. He was aboard the space shuttle STS-115 at the time.
In 2007, a famous orchestra and ballet company performed her work The Tempest. Her opera The Silent Twins was also performed that year.
In 2012, one of her songs, "Daedalus," was used for a BBC TV show. Another piece, "Principia," was played at the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony. This piece had lyrics about science.
In 2017, her work Mighty River was performed. It marked 200 years since the end of the slave trade in England.
Her Piano Concerto was supposed to be performed in 2020. But it was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was finally performed in 2022.
Recordings and Publications
In 2004, Errollyn Wallen released an album of her own songs. It was called Errollyn. Her music has also been featured on albums by other artists. For example, the Brodsky Quartet included her work on their album Mood Swings.
Her music is published by Peters Edition. This means they help share her music with the world.
Awards and Recognition
Errollyn Wallen has received many awards for her contributions to music. She was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007. Later, she received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2020. These are special honors from the British monarch.
She also won an Ivor Novello Award. She was the first woman to win this award for classical music.
In 2018, the BBC listed her as one of their "100 Women." This list celebrates inspiring women from around the world.
In 2020, she received the Distinguished Musician Award. This award is from the Incorporated Society of Musicians.
In 2022, she was featured on BBC Radio 3's Composer of the Week. In 2024, she was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. On this show, guests choose their favorite music, book, and luxury item. She chose a piece by Bach as her favorite music.
In November 2024, she was honored by The Ivors Academy. She was inducted into their Fellowship.
Academic Roles
In 2020, Errollyn Wallen became a visiting professor of composition. She teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
See also
In Spanish: Errollyn Wallen para niños
