Interview with Annabel Baxter

You’re currently studying for Biology, Chemistry and Music A levels in Year 13 – how’s it all going?

Good thank you! I really enjoy a good challenge in lessons whilst having lots of variety between subjects.

Which aspects of A level Music do you particularly enjoy?

My favourite aspect of A level music is being around such a passionate group of musicians – both students and teachers. We have a lot of fun discovering everyone’s unique interests and experiences in the music world!

I’ve also particularly enjoyed analysing Mozart’s ‘Marriage of Figaro’. I find it so interesting discovering unique harmonic progressions and hidden motifs that make Mozart’s music so elegant and captivating. A memorable highlight has been my class reenacting some of the scenes!

You’re pretty active in the musical life of your school. What do you like about music at school?

I play trombone in school’s swing band, symphonic wind band and symphony orchestra. These ensembles have given me the amazing opportunity to explore diverse ranges of repertoire as well as make life-long friendships. Conducting SAJE, our non-auditioned jazz band for two years, has been a great experience. It has given me the chance to develop my leadership skills, learn how to run rehearsals efficiently and design programmes. I also love being a part of such a warm welcoming community. I am very excited for our jazz night in February where we get to have lots of fun – an evening where all our hard work pays off!

I don’t think there’s anything better than school’s music tours abroad! I loved every minute of swing band’s tour to Belgium in summer 2023 and chamber choir’s tour to Venice and Lake Garda last summer. Being able to sing at a Mass service at St.Mark’s, Venice, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience; I can’t believe we sang in a place filled with such rich musical history!

Last year you were the winner of the ORA Singers Young Composers Scheme – congratulations! How did you get involved in it?

Thank you! The ORA Singers contact state schools across the UK to encourage music students interested in composition to apply to the scheme. It looked like such an exciting opportunity that I thought there was nothing to lose in applying!

As part of the scheme you had a composing mentor – what did you learn and how do you feel your skills developed?

I was so lucky to have Dr Toby Young (Professor of Composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama) as my mentor. I was particularly grateful at the start of the composition process, where Toby pointed me in the direction of stimulus pieces that captured nature. I discovered such a wide range of music from composers that on my own would have been unlikely to uncover. This included artists Cosmo Sheldrake and the Swingle Singers with their interesting use of textures and rhythms, as well as Rautavaara’s ‘Cantus Arcticus’ – I was inspired by his use of real bird recordings in a heterophonic partnership with instruments from the orchestra.

From my own experiences, I believe that the composer’s biggest challenge is not coming up with ideas. It is the challenge of being able to notate exactly what’s in one’s mind, so that a musician can perform the piece effectively. Having Toby as my mentor felt like notation was no longer my limitation. For example, I wanted singers to imitate 4 chosen birds in a rhythmically free manner; Toby introduced me to aleatoric box notation so this effect could be materialised.

I really enjoyed working with Annabel. She’s an incredibly creative and imaginative young composer, and I’m sure has a very bright future indeed. (Toby Young)

How did it feel to hear the performance of your vocal composition in Worcester Cathedral at the Three Choirs Festival?

It was such a surreal feeling! To hear my composition come to life with such talented singers in such a beautiful acoustic was incredible. It was particularly magical at the beginning of my piece, where birdsong echoed through the cathedral, closely imitated by the singers. The fact that many of our greatest composers – including Elgar, Vaughan Williams – have had their compositions premiered at the Three Choirs Festival just emphasises how grateful I am for my composition to be performed at such a prestigious festival!

How has the scheme shaped your interest in choral music?

It was amazing to be introduced to a variety of vocal repertoire through the scheme. It inspired me to explore choral repertoire further at the Rodolfus Foundation Choral Course in Oxford last summer, where I got to sing traditional evensong works such as Howells’ ‘Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis’ and some modern pieces such as Rutter’s ‘Hymn to the Creator of Light’. A particular highlight was participating in an open rehearsal with Somerville College Choral Director, Will Dawes. This inspired me to apply for a Somerville choral scholarship, which I’m delighted to have been offered, in addition to being accepted to study Music at Lady Margaret Hall.

What tips can you share for anyone thinking of applying to the Young Composers Scheme?

Absolutely go for it – do not underestimate yourself. There is nothing to lose in applying, and it is one of the most incredible experiences for under-18 composers out there! The only thing I would say is you will get the most out of the programme if you have time to put all your energy into it! I decided to apply in year 12, instead of year 11, so that I was able to focus on the composition process without having to worry about GCSE exams.

When you’re composing, do you like to use a particular piece of software or are you a pencil ‘n’ paper fan?

My biggest friend is Voice Memos on my phone! Whenever I have an idea – which often comes at the most random of times – I record it, meaning I have a library of sounds that I can expand on. (This sometimes becomes a slight problem when I have
300 recordings on my phone… most unlabelled!!) The next step in my composition process is making a moodboard of ideas on Soundtrap – a free online software that enables me to overlay recordings. Then I use Sibelius to notate all my ideas and create the final piece!

What would you like to compose next?

I’m currently working on a composition for brass band, after I was inspired by nature artist Andy Goldsworthy’s Hanging Stones 8 barns in Rosedale all renovated into individual artworks. I love playing in brass bands and am excited to explore the ensemble’s potential.

About Annabel Baxter

Annabel Baxter is a sixth former at St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate, currently studying A-level Music. She first discovered her love of music at primary school where she learnt the descant recorder. After trying a number of instruments, including oboe and cello, she is now very happy to sing in choirs and play the piano and trombone. This has given her the opportunity to play a diverse repertoire in a wide range of ensembles including St Aidan’s Swing Band, Chamber Choir and Tewit Youth Band. Joining these groups has been great fun but also helped Annabel discover a curiosity for different genres and a passion for composing for a variety of ensembles, which she hopes to develop in the future.