Martin Bussey

Martin Bussey combines the roles of composer and conductor. His most recent success is a new audio-visual piece, Timeless Figure for baritone Peter Edge, inspired by the clockmakers Joyce of Whitchurch. Premiered at the 2020 Tete-a-tete Opera Festival at London’s Cockpit Theatre, the work was described by reviewer Robert Hugill as: a 45-minute tour de force…imaginative writing for marimba, clarinet and viola…some striking textures…the vocal line being expressive and singer-friendly yet highly wrought.’. Martin’s Mary’s Hand, a one-woman show created with Di Sherlock and mezzo-soprano Clare McCaldin, premiered in the summer of 2018 to great critical acclaim. The Independent in its five-star review considered the piece outstanding with evocative music, while The Stage called the music linear, finely-wrought and daringly spare. Future venues for this work in 2021 include Aldeburgh Parish Church and two performances at The Tower of London. The BBC regularly broadcasts performances of Martins’ work from the Ludlow English Song Weekend, including The Windhover and Mr Hancock’s Letter in May 2019. Recordings include Through a glass, a recording of songs, by Marcus Farnsworth, James Baillieu and an ensemble directed by Thomas Kemp on Resonus Classics. The Observer described the Through a glass darkly as ‘an enthralling piece, which makes a philosophical exploration of dreams and reality’. A CD of Martin’s choral music sung by the London-based professional choir, Sonoro, directed by Neil Ferris, on Resonus Classics received four-star reviews in BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone magazine and Choir and Organ, being described as ‘glorious’. Organist Tom Bell has recorded several of Martin’s organ works on a London Independent Records CD, Northern Lights.

He currently directs the Chester Bach Singers, Cantiones Choir in Oswestry, and is a vocal tutor at Manchester University. He is Chairman of the Finzi Friends and a director of Ludlow English Song. Martin was a Choral Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge after which he studied singing at the Royal Northern College of Music. He ran the aural, academic music and choral programmes at Chetham’s School of Music, where he taught from 1988 to 2013.

He is currently working on a commissioned solo cantata for the Pinner Festival in 2021, A Brother Abroad, to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the foundation of Pinner Parish Church, to be premiered by Marcus Farnsworth.