Review of 2023

It was always going to be difficult to follow such a wonderful and enriching year as 2022, but in many ways it was just as good (albeit more challenging in various places) with lots of exciting musical events. The year began with a mini-tour of Scotland with pianist Duncan Honeybourne promoting Transfiguration: The Piano Music of Phillip Cooke, which was released in April. In fact, recordings seemed to be the emphasis of the year with new releases featuring pieces of mine from the Marian Consort and others.

My ongoing relationship with Caritas Chamber Choir carried on to great effect with new recordings of many of my motets and the much-delayed premiere of Missa Sancti Albanus in November, which I was able to attend. Other lasting collaborations were begun with organists Matthew McVey (St Edmundsbury) and David Shingler (Carlisle) and with choirs Voces Boreales (Canada) and Lassenne Vocale (Belgium). There were various other premieres across the globe and a wonderful radio documentary on my piano music on Austrian radio. Other highlights included finally seeing my Gloria coming to life in Cumnock in October and welcoming the excellent Svanholm Singers and Siglo de Oro to Aberdeen in March and November respectively.

2024 promises to be a creative year, if one that is continuing to be politically unstable. I might begin writing a book. We’ll see…

PAC