BIOGRAPHY
Adrienne is a Welsh composer, based in north-west England. She is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and plays violin and viola. Described as ‘evocative, beautifully written’ (Kendal Midday Concert Club) and ‘atmospheric, fluid in its harmonies and moods’ (Bollington Chamber Concerts), Adrienne creates work which is approachable and rewarding for audiences and performers alike. Her musical language is lyrical, with melodic strands and textures that combine to produce expressive dissonance. Performers comment on her works being satisfying to play and atmospheric: 'I particularly love the way you can make a line hover and shimmer'. Adrienne frequently draws inspiration from places, landscape, gardens and nature, and has written works for a range of ensembles, from small orchestra to chamber and vocal music, for both professional and leisure-time musicians. Her music has been performed at a range of venues, concert societies and events, including The Stoller Hall Manchester, Kendal Midday Concert Club, Bollington Chamber Concerts, Evesham Music Club, Spring Bank Arts New Mills, The Heritage Centre Macclesfield, The Witham Barnard Castle, Buxton Fringe and Didsbury Arts Festivals.
Her two String Quartets have inspiration in gardens: the first, Bodnant, from Bodnant Gardens in North Wales in early spring, and the second, day, turning, from sitting in a garden, with its varied topography, pond, plants and wildlife, watching the day go by during the COVID-19 lock-downs.
A 12-player string ensemble is used in Eyebright, a work commissioned by the Lindow Ensemble whose genesis was in visits which Adrienne made to wildflower meadows being created and conserved in Cheshire. Dancing to a lighter sky for orchestra has its origins in the Clwydian countryside and quotes an ancient Welsh lullaby, Pais Dinogad. Her wind quintet Three Whimsies will be premiered in July 2026.
Adrienne’s natural lyricism extends to song and poetry too. Her song cycle for tenor and string orchestra, True Plain Hearts, explores contrasting poems by John Donne on the theme of love and relationships. In her works for string orchestra, Adrienne delights in uncovering the expressive possibilities of a Welsh folksong, or the flamboyant spirit of an Irish jig. Concordia Suite, commissioned to celebrate the Concordia String Orchestra's 25th anniversary in 2014, was warmly received by them.
Adrienne also arranges works for various ensembles, from those of English Renaissance composers to popular songs and folk tunes.
'Her string music is wonderfully idiomatic.....the influence of folk song is strong and cleverly incorporated. If your string orchestra has embraced Holst's St. Paul's Suite or Britten's Simple Symphony, then Adrienne's music will certainly bring fresh repertoire to your next concert programme'
'Audiences have very much enjoyed Adrienne's String Suites, especially No. 3 which has an especially beautiful second movement. Her music is recognisably English and the influence of Finzi and Elgar can sometimes be detected'