Judith Bingham facts for kids

Judith Bingham (born 21 June 1952) is a talented English composer and singer. She is known for writing many different kinds of music. From 1983 to 1995, she was a member of the BBC Singers, a famous professional choir. She has also received a special honor called the OBE for her contributions to music.

About Judith Bingham

Judith Bingham was born in Nottingham, England, on June 21, 1952. Her parents were Jack and Peggy Bingham. She went to High Storrs Grammar School for Girls in Sheffield. When she was 16, she started taking singing lessons.

Her Music Education

From 1970 to 1973, Judith studied at the Royal Academy of Music. This is a very famous music school. She won a special award there in 1972 called the Principal's Prize for Music. Later, in 1997, she became an associate of the Academy. She learned from many great teachers, including Malcolm MacDonald and Alan Bush.

Her Career in Music

After finishing her studies, Judith continued to learn about composing music. She worked privately with Hans Keller from 1974 to 1980. In 1977, she won the BBC Young Composer Award. This was a big achievement early in her career.

Working with Choirs

Judith Bingham was a singer with the BBC Singers for 12 years. This group is known for performing many different types of choral music. She has also written music for them and for the Finchley Children's Music Group. Her compositions have been performed and broadcast widely on TV and radio.

Awards and Recognition

In 2005, Judith Bingham was made a Fellow of the Royal Northern College of Music. This is a high honor given to people who have made important contributions to music. In 2018, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Aberdeen. In 2020, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award recognized her excellent service to music.

Her Compositions

Most of Judith Bingham's music is written for voices or choirs. However, she also started writing for brass bands in the 1980s. She composes music for churches and for the organ. She has written seven Missa Brevis, which are short musical settings of parts of the Mass.

Notable Works

Here are some of her well-known compositions:

• Flynn (1977–78): An opera about the life of Errol Flynn.
• Chartres (1988): A piece for orchestra.
• Beyond Redemption (1994–95): Another orchestral work.
• The Temple at Karnak (1996): A piece for orchestra.
• Passaggio (1998): A concerto for bassoon and orchestra.
• The Shooting Star (1999): A concerto for trumpet and orchestra.
• Salt in the Blood (1995): For choir and brass orchestra.
• The Darkness Is No Darkness (1993): For choir and organ.
• The Snows Descend (1997): For brass orchestra.
• First Light (2001): For choir and brass orchestra.
• Bright Spirit (2001): For wind ensemble.
• Mass (2003): A musical setting of the Mass.
• The Secret Garden (2004): A fantasy piece for choir and organ.
• Leonardo (2012): A concerto for bassoon and thirteen strings.
• Ghostly Grace (2015): For choir and organ.
• Watch With Me (2016): An anthem for a special vigil.
• Elsewhere (2024): A quintet for clarinet and strings.