Member Spotlight

Member Member spotlight spotlight

Composer Angela Slater shares her passion for contemporary classical music

How did you originally get into music?

I grew up in a large village – Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire. Thinking back to my childhood, I can’t really remember a time when I didn’t know about music. Even before I was at an age where I could have piano lessons, I was always drawn to playing on the piano and would mess around, probably disturbing my brother’s practice. Later, I would write little pastiche-type pieces, which then transformed into popsongs in my teenage years and then melded back to classical music.

What or who inspires you?

Music itself, the natural world and other artforms particularly poetry, dance, and visual arts. When composing, I find engaging with extra-musical sources whether this be visual art, poetry, the natural world, or a scientific concept to be an extremely useful way to stimulate and structure my composition thoughts in the writing process. This helps me to map out the form of the piece, and to think about colour and texture.

What piece of advice has helped you most in your career?

To stay true to the intentionality of your idea, don’t let it be watered down or compromised. That doesn’t mean not thinking about practicalities or idiomatic writing, but don’t shy away from writing the ideas in their fullest and most clear form.

What has been the most rewarding project so far in your career and why?

There have been many, but being on London Philharmonic’s Young Composer programme working with Brett Dean and Richard Waters on my viola concerto Through the Fading Hour was a wonderful combination of time, space, and mentorship, with the highest levels of musicianship and dedication. It led me to write what I think may be one of my best works and have an amazing performance of it.

What advice would you give someone wanting to succeed in the music industry?

Make sure to value your generation of friends and colleagues as they will grow with you through your career, you can help each other grow and create opportunities together.

If you could work in another area of the music industry, where would it be and why?

I can’t imagine not being a composer and would not want to work in another part of the music industry. Through being a composer, I end up dipping my toe into other areas anyway such as concert curation, musicology, education, music admin and project management. I feel like I experience many different areas through my composition career.

If you could change one thing about the music sector, what would it be and why?

That it was more open to those from state school or working class backgrounds. I have always felt like I am catching up, and still do, and there is no financial safety net to allow for certain opportunities to be taken up.

What are your future plans?

On 4 November, I will be having my piano concerto Tautening Skies performed at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the Bradshaw Hall by pianist Laura Farré Rozada and I will be working on a commission for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s centenary celebrations which will premiere in January 2023.

Finally, what does your ISM membership mean to you?

It is a consistent and reliable source of information and guidance. I feel I can reach out to enquire about things I am unsure of, and ISM will give me unbiased advice to help navigate my career.