Selected collaboration for the 2022 Picture Gallery Composer-in-Residence Scheme
About the music creator
Postgraduate student, studying Masters in Music under the Headley Trust Scholarship at Royal Holloway, Matthew Elderton-Lewis (b. 2001) specialises in composition.
Previously studying at London College of Music with close compositional tuition from David Osbon, Simone Spagnolo and Francis Pott, he graduated with a First Class Honours in BMus (Hons) Composition. Alongside his degree, he also completed a Licentiate Conducting Diploma (LLCM), receiving opportunities such as conducting at the prestigious Abbey Road Studios and conducting his own works with the LCM Camerata. Matthew has composed for solo instruments, small ensembles, and orchestral ensembles, with compositions being workshopped and performed by well-established ensembles such as Ligeti Quartet and Phacelia Ensemble. Particularly influenced by early 20th Century and late-romantic repertoire from composers such as Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Igor Stravinsky, Matthew’s compositional style is both idiosyncratic and memorably melodic and he is looking forward to writing for the RHUL Choir and is excited at the creative possibilities that could follow in the future.
You can find out more about Matthew on his website: https://www.eldertonlewismusic.com/
About the creative writer
Genevieve Stevens (b.1981) is a writer and teacher. She studied at Trinity College, Dublin, Ecole Normale Supérieure and Royal Holloway, University of London where she is currently in the final year of her practice-based poetry Ph.D, studying under the supervision of Lavinia Greenlaw and Eley Williams.
Stevens’ poetry, reviews and essays have appeared in various publications including PN Review (2021). TLS (2021) The Moth (2019, 2021) New Statesman (2022) The London Magazine (2021) Poetry London (2022) and Blunt Instrument (Mary Ramsden, 2021). Stevens was recently highly-commended for the International Moth Poetry Prize (2021) judged by Nick Laird.
Stevens is a Visiting Lecturer (Creative Writing) at Royal Holloway University. She also delivers poetry workshops and courses across the country. Recent/forthcoming posts include Charleston (2023), Poetry School (2022), Curious House (2022). Stevens lives in East Sussex with her husband and two children.
On accepting this opportunity, Genevieve says: "I was thrilled to be accepted onto this scheme because it both speaks to my existing preoccupation with the visual arts whilst also pushing me into unknown territory - namely, to collaborate with a composer. I'm excited to see how ideas are shared, re-visioned, transposed and consolidated across these varied disciplines."
Image of Matthew Elderton-Lewis & Genevieve Stevens
