Quick Facts
Biography
Errollyn Wallen (born 1958) is a Belize-born British composer. She was the first black woman to have a work performed at The Proms ("Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra").
Life
Errollyn Wallen moved to London with her family when she was two. She studied composition at Goldsmiths' College and at King's College London. Her music draws on a wide range of influences, including avant-garde classical music as well as popular songwriting.
Compositions include the 'multi-media song cycle' Jordan Town (2001), Dervish for cello and piano (2001), La Luga for guitar quintet (2002), the opera Another America: Earth (2003) and All the Blues I See for flute and string quartet (2004).
In 2004, Wallen recorded an album of her own songs and solo piano music, entitled Errollyn. Her opera The Silent Twins, with a libretto by April De Angelis, was first performed by the Almeida Opera in 2007.
2007- Gewandhaus Orchestra/ Leipzig Ballet- "The Tempest" choreography by James McMenemy
2008- June. World Premier "Carbon 12- A Choral Symphony" Welsh National Opera
CDs include: "The Girl In My Alphabet", "Meet Me at Harold Moores", featured on Brodsky Quartet "Mood Swings" alongside Björk, Sting and Elvis Costello.
In 2006 she co- wrote a song with the Astronaut Steve MacLean whilst he was aboard the space shuttle STS-115.
Wallen's music is published by Peters Edition. Her work has been performed in leading concert halls/ theatres around the world.
She was made an MBE for services to music in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June 2007
In 2012, her song "Daedalus" from the album Errollyn served as the opening and closing theme for the BBC drama One Night, and her "Principia", which has lyrics about science, was featured in the London Paralympics Opening Ceremony.