Stephen McNeff facts for kids
Stephen McNeff (born 6 September 1951) is an Irish composer. He is well known for creating music for plays and operas.
About Stephen McNeff
Stephen McNeff was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He grew up in south Wales. He loved music and studied how to compose at the Royal Academy of Music. He also did more research at the University of Exeter.
Stephen started his career working with theatre groups. From 1980 to 1984, he was a composer for the Banff Centre and Comus Theatre in Canada. During this time, he wrote an opera called The Secret Garden (1985). This opera was based on a famous book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It even won an award called the Dora Mavor Moore Award!
In the 1990s, Stephen continued to write music for plays. His music for a show called Aesop won an award at the Edinburgh Festival. Later, he became the 'Composer-in-the-House' for the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 2005. This meant he wrote many important pieces for them.
Today, Stephen McNeff teaches music. He is a visiting artist at places like Dartington International Summer School. He also teaches composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Stephen's Music
Stephen McNeff has written many different kinds of music. He is especially known for his operas and music for orchestras.
Operas
Operas are like plays where all the words are sung. Stephen has written many operas, often based on famous stories:
- The Secret Garden (1985): Based on the classic children's book.
- Clockwork (2004): This opera was inspired by the children's novel by Philip Pullman.
- Gentle Giant (2007): Based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo.
- Tarka The Otter (2007): This opera was based on the book by Henry Williamson. It won an award for best stage work!
- Daughter Of The Elements (2011): This opera tells the story of the famous scientist Marie Curie.
- The Chalk Legend (2012): A community opera for people in Dorset.
Other Music
Stephen also writes music for orchestras and choirs.
- Cities of Dreams (2008): This piece is for a singer, a choir, and an orchestra. It uses words from famous poets like Rudyard Kipling and Walt Whitman.
- Seven For A Secret (2011): Stephen adapted music from a piece by Maurice Ravel for a dance company.
- Concert Duo (2010): This is a special piece for percussion (like drums and xylophones) and an orchestra.
