Biography.
Gordon McPherson was born in Dundee in 1965. He studied at the University of York returning there for his Doctorate, continuing with post-doctoral research at the Royal Northern College of Music. His work has been performed and broadcast widely throughout the UK and abroad.
Recent works have included, “The Baby Bear’s Bed” a large amplified work commissioned for London based ensemble Icebreaker and premiered in Vienna, a third string quartet “The Original Soundtrack” commissioned by the Salisbury Festival, “South” commissioned by the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, two guitar concertos, the first “Upbeat Destroyer” commissioned by the Bath International Guitar Festival and “Born of Funk and the Fear of Failing” commissioned by the Dundee International Guitar Festival and premiered by Allan Neave and Psappha; “The Waterworks” a large hour long multi- media investigation into alien abductions commissioned by and premiered by the Paragon Ensemble, “Morning Drunk and Buzzard” commissioned for the 25th anniversary of the St.Magnus Festival for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra; and he has just completed a new large scale orchestral work “The New Black” commissioned by the BBC and premiered in 2007.
In 2003 he was awarded a Creative Scotland Award for a new orchestral work based on research into the paranormal and spiritualism which resulted in the ongoing collection of works – “Ghosts” – at present consisting of “Chopin” a piano concerto using interviews with Chopin through a direct voice medium, “The Winchester Mystery House” for large ensemble, and “Spiricom” for large wind brass and percussion ensemble.
His work has been recorded on a number of labels and his most recent are, Detours, a 2 CD collection of his work released on the Metier label, and Tales from the Darkside, recent ensemble works released on the Glasgow based label Natural Studio.
He is currently Head of Composition at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.