Ilona Sekacz facts for kids

Ilona Sekacz (born April 6, 1948) is a British composer. She writes music for concerts, movies, TV shows, and plays.

Early life

Sekacz was born in Blackpool, England. Her father was Polish, and her mother was English. She learned to play the violin. She was even a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. This is a special group for talented young musicians.

She later went to the University of Birmingham. She first studied music. Then she changed to drama and theatre. She did not finish her degree. (Fuller 2006)

Career

Ilona Sekacz worked for the British Film Institute for four years. This organization helps with films. One day, she saw a musical called Jesus Christ Superstar. She felt she could compose music too. So, she left her job and started writing music.

She began by creating music for plays. She spent three years with the Unicorn Theatre in London. For them, she made music using recorded sounds. Then she worked for the Shared Experience company. In 1982, she wrote music for the Royal Shakespeare Company's play King Lear. This company is famous for performing Shakespeare's plays. She worked with them a lot after that. She wrote music for plays by Shakespeare and other writers. (Fuller 2006)

In the 1980s, she also scored many TV projects. These included Alan Bleasdale's Boys from the Blackstuff (1982). She also worked on the 1992 TV series Maigret. (Fuller 2006)

In 1989, she composed an opera called A Small Green Space. An opera is a play where most of the words are sung. Fay Weldon wrote the story for it. This opera used both amateur and professional performers. The English National Opera took it on tour across England. (Fuller 2006)

Ilona Sekacz also writes music for orchestras and smaller groups of instruments. She has also written music for choirs. Much of her choral music helps with conservation and wildlife causes. (Fuller 2006)

In 1992, the Warwick Arts Society asked her to write a piece. It was called Lost in the Gallery. It was first performed on June 27, 1992, at Ilmington Church. It was then played at the Warwick Festival. (Phillips 1992)

In 2010, she wrote the music for a play called Onassis. This play was about the life of a Greek shipping businessman named Aristotle Onassis.

Film and TV Music

Ilona Sekacz has composed music for many films and TV shows. Here are some of them:

• Dalziel and Pascoe (TV series): "Fallen Angel" (2006)
• Le Cadeau d’Elena (2004)
• Wondrous Oblivion (2003)
• Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
• Dalziel and Pascoe (TV series): "For Love Nor Money" (2002)
• Dalziel and Pascoe: "Secrets of the Dead" (2001)
• Station Jim (2000)
• It Can Be Done (1999)
• Solomon and Gaenor (1999)
• A Certain Justice (1998)
• Mortimer's Law (1998)
• Mrs. Dalloway (1997)
• Under the Skin (1997)
• Wokenwell (TV series, 1997)
• My Night with Reg (TV film, 1996)
• Antonia's Line (1995)
• Henry IV (TV play, 1995)
• Earthfasts (1994)
• A Pin for the Butterfly (1994)
• Love On a Branch Line (TV miniseries, 1993)
• Fighting for Gemma (1993)
• Common Pursuit (1992)
• The Countess Alice (1992)
• Back Home (TV film, 1990)
• Can You Hear Me Thinking? (TV film, 1990)
• The Lilac Bus (TV film, 1990)
• The Heat of the Day (TV film, 1989)
• Knuckle (TV film, 1989)
• Dead Lucky (TV film, 1988)
• Intimate Contact (TV film, 1987)
• Imaginary Friends (TV miniseries, 1987)
• Final Run (TV film, 1987)
• Northanger Abbey (TV film, 1987)
• The Importance of Being Earnest (TV film, 1986)
• Fox Tales (TV series, 1985)
• Dutch Girls (TV film, 1985)
• Freud (6-part TV miniseries, 1984)
• Across the Water (TV film, 1983)
• Boys from the Blackstuff (TV miniseries, 1982)
• Not for the Likes of Us (TV play, 1980)
• Buses (TV play, 1980)