Tony Osborne

Professional

Composer/Lyricist:	Composer
Genre:	Concert
Email:	tony@ozzape.com
Website:	www.musiciansgallery.com

Biography

Tony Osborne was born in Slough in 1947 into a musical family. He played double-bass from the age of nine and began composing at 14. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music (1966-69) with Richard Stoker (composition) and John Walton (double-bass). Since then he has divided a busy schedule between composing, performing and teaching, which have provided an extremely wide range of musical experience, including classical, jazz, continental, multi-ethnic, folk, pop and rock. He now devotes more of his time to composing to meet growing demand for his work. He is a member of the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters and, before that, the Composers' Guild of Great Britain since 1967. Tony is also an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and was a member of the panel of judges for the British Composer Awards, 2003 and 2006.

As a free-lance bassist, Tony has played in orchestras including BBC Symphony and Concert, Royal Ballet, D'Oyly Carte; in pantomime at the Theatre Royal Windsor for 29 years; also with Lucie Skeaping & the Burning Bush, cabaret with Sir Harry Secombe, Frankie Vaughan and Faith Brown; regular dates at The Ritz and other London venues, Henley Regatta and on the Orient Express! Film/TV-appearances include 'A View To A Kill', 'She's been Away', 'Capital City', 'Loser Takes All', 'Century' and a documentary on The Ritz. He has taught double-bass and bass-guitar in many state and independent schools, colleges, Universities and privately, at all levels. Many former pupils are now in the music profession.

Tony's output as a composer has been described as eclectic, drawing on his wide experience and interests. His compositions and arrangements for string orchestra (largely for Faber Music: 'Stringsets', and Boosey & Hawkes: 'Strings Together') are highly popular around the world and have even been performed at Royal Banquets. Important concert works include orchestral, choral, brass, chamber, and a musical show. He is currently working on an opera project. The music of Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein, Shostakovitch Britten are among many important influences. Tony is acknowledged as a leading composer for double-bass, with three concertos, many pieces for bass and piano, or bass solo, and a major contribution to the repertoire for bass-ensemble, from three to 12 players. Several pieces are included in ABRSM, Trinity Guildhall, LCMM, and AMEB (Australia) examination lists.

Much of Tony's music has been commissioned and performed by David Heyes (British and International Bass Forum/Bass Fest/Recital Music), Wells Cathedral School, Royal Academy of Music, The Soloists Ensemble, and Barry Green, American bassist and author of The Inner Game of Music and Mastery of Music.

Tony Osborne's works are published by Faber, Recital Music, Boosey & Hawkes, Piper, Yorke, and www.sibeliusmusic.com

Important Works		Performances
Ubi Caritas (a capella) (1987) 4 mins [Recital Music]. 1st perfs include Windsor Festival and Karlstadt Cathedral, 1987 Suite & Light (Faber: Stringsets, 1991) for string orchestra. Also to be adapted for performance by Hugin Quartet (of the Singapore Chinese Orch), Jubilee Hall, Singapore, December 1999 Chaconne Syncopations (1998) 10 mins for brass quintet. Commissioned by Chaconne Brass. Performed at Winchester Festival, 1998 Requiem (1998) 55 mins for soprano, tenor, chorus, chamber ensemble. Commissioned by Voci Cantati Jazz Suite (1998) approx 25 mins, for double-bass, piano and optional drums. Commissioned by Barry Green - author of 'The Inner Game of Music'. Performed extensively in USA, Canada, UK A Fine Time For Wine, musical show, words by Jonathan Posner. Concerto for Double-Bass & String Orchestra (1997) 20 mins. Prem: David Heyes, soloist Mood Swings (1997) 10 mins for double-bass, piano, drums. Commissioned by David Heyes/Gershwin & Co; premiered Purcell Room, London, 1997 Free Spirit (1997) 10 mins. Vocalise for soprano, double-bass and piano. In memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. Also performed in the USA as 'Shir Ha-Neshamah' with added text Community Opera Margaret of Maidenhead (libretto by Rudi Sheldon) premiered at Norden Farm Centre, Maidenhead July 2004.		None added