Dr Daniel Bickerton
MMus PhD (Wales) PGD (London) AFHEA LMusTCL AMusTCL FTCL LTCL ATCL
Lecturer, UG Examinations Convenor & Deputy Admissions Tutor
- bickertondi@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 0405
- Fax:
- +44 (0)29 2087 4379
- 0.18, 33-37 Heol Corbett, Cathays, Caerdydd, CF10 3EB
- Sylwebydd y cyfryngau
I am the Director of Undergraduate Studies at the School of Music. I am also an active composer with compositional interests including intertextuality, jazz, arrangement and hybridity, transculturalism, as well as the reception and interpretation of contemporary music. My music has been described as 'soulful', and 'full of skittish cascades' and 'invoking a sense of period and character – and just a little (harmless) madness' in The Times. My work has been performed in several major venues in the UK (including Wales Millennium Centre, Purcell Room and Birmingham Symphony Hall), Italy (La Mortella), Germany (Idstein Jazz Festival), France (Palais de Festivités, Evian), Switzerland (Montreux Jazz Festival), Belgium (Ghent Music Festival and St. George's Memorial Church, Ypres) the USA (San Francisco Theatre), and broadcast on BBC Radio Wales and ITV Wales. I studied composition with Arlene Sierra, Stephen Montague, Judith Weir and Anthony Powers at Cardiff University School of Music and Trinity College, London for both undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Recent commissions have included projects with Cor Aduniad, the Fidelio Trio (Cheltenham Music Festival premiere, July 2014), BBC Big Band (dir. Jay Craig), The Cardon Ensemble, London New Wind Ensemble (November 2013), Jack Lewis (trombone), Alexander Davis (saxophone), Cardiff University Big Band, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Consortium5, Lontano, RMA, Nathan Jorgensen's 'Four o'clock Band', and MFY.
Education and qualifications
- 2014: LMusTCL in Theory and Analysis (Trinity College London)
- 2012: PhD (Composition) Cardiff University, UK
- 2012: AFHEA (Higher Education Academy)
- 2011: AMusTCL with Distinction (Trinity College London)
- 2009: LTCL: Teaching with Distinction (Trinity College London)
- 2008: PGD with Distinction (Composition) Trinity Laban Conservatoire, UK
- 2007: MMus with Distinction (Composition) Cardiff University, UK
- 2006: BMus (Hons) with First Class Honours, Cardiff University, UK
- 2004: ATCL: Recital with Distinction (Trinity College London)
Anrhydeddau a Dyfarniadau
- CUROP (July 2016)
- First Campus for Outreach and Engagement (2014-16)
- CUSU for Benjamin Britten Centenary: Celebration for Composers (2013)
- Cardiff University Research Studentship (2008-2012)
- Joan Greenfield Fellowship (2007-08)
- Welsh Livery Guild (2007)
- AHRC (2006-07)
- Celia Thomas Bequest (2006)
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
- Member of the international examining board for AMusTCL, Trinity College London (2015-present)
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2012-present) for professional recognition of Teaching and Scholarship
Safleoedd academaidd blaenorol
- 2016-present: Director of Undergraduate Studies, Cardiff University School of Music
- 2014-2016: Deputy Undergraduate Admissions Tutor, Cardiff University School of Music
- 2013-2014: Lecturer in Music and Ideology, Leeds College of Music
- 2009-2014: Associate Lecturer, Cardiff University School of Music
Ymrwymiadau siarad cyhoeddus
- Leeds College of Music (2014)
- Trinity Laban (2013)
- Cardiff University (2013)
- RMA Kings College London (2010)
- Trinity Laban (2009)
- Keele University (2008)
Pwyllgorau ac adolygu
- Chair of the Undergraduate Board of Studies (2016-present)
- Chair of Examination and Year Boards (2016-present)
- Assessment and Feedback Lead for MUSIC (2015-present)
- Member of Learning and Teaching Committee (2015-present)
- Member of Undergraduate Staff Student Panel (2014-present)
- Member of Postgraduate Board of Studies (2014-present)
- Member of IT Committee (2013-14)
2020
- Bickerton, D. 2020. Wires Crossed.
- Bickerton, D. 2020. Yearning.
- Bickerton, D. 2020. Wild Water.
- Bickerton, D. 2020. As Alive As Ever.
- Bickerton, D. 2020. Breaker of Stones.
- Bickerton, D. 2020. Ensemble music-making: responding to the challenges of COVID-19 for performers and composers. Presented at: MusicHE 2020, Online, 3 July 2020.
2019
- Bickerton, D. 2019. By Gosh, By Golly. Daniel Bickerton.
- Bickerton, D. 2019. nighTrain.
- Bickerton, D. 2019. Smile.
2018
- Bickerton, D. 2018. The opportunities of Panopto within the School of Music. Cardiff: Cardiff University Centre for Education Innovation. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnw6gdTKlIk
- Bickerton, D. 2018. Assessment and feedback challenges in music. Presented at: Assessment Challenges and Challenging Assessment, Cardiff, UK, 24 September 2018.
- Bickerton, D. 2018. Learn Plus: Advantages in formative assessments. Presented at: Cardiff University Education Innovation Week, Cardiff, UK, 23 January 2018.
- Bickerton, D. 2018. Simmer down.
- Bickerton, D. 2018. Flypast.
- Bickerton, D. and Gornall, L. 2018. Playing together: What can academics in higher education learn from musicians about creative leadership and collaboration?. In: Gornall, L., Thomas, B. and Sweetman, L. eds. Exploring Consensual Leadership in Higher Education. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 243-262.
2017
- Bickerton, D. and Allen, P. 2017. Cardiff - Capital city of Wales. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqicqIMGGpI
- Bickerton, D. 2017. Sea of Stone [Tyne Cot Sketches: II]. Bickerton.
- Bickerton, D. 2017. The pitch within.
- Bickerton, D. 2017. Mad About ThaT.
2016
- Bickerton, D. 2016. Even though it's breaking, imagine!.
- Bickerton, D. 2016. #CONNECT.
2015
- Bickerton, D. 2015. Textbook.
- Bickerton, D. 2015. Weather By Funk.
- Bickerton, D. 2015. Eclipse.
- Bickerton, D. 2015. Two mourning angels [Tyne Cot Sketches: I].
- Bickerton, D. 2015. Invictus.
- Bickerton, D. 2015. Ballad.
2014
- Bickerton, D. 2014. Let's Do It Again.
- Bickerton, D. 2014. The Cause.
- Bickerton, D. 2014. Inward Thinking.
- Bickerton, D. 2014. Evening Dew.
- Bickerton, D. 2014. Redux Shone Through Time.
2013
- Bickerton, D. 2013. Stand Up.
- Bickerton, D. 2013. Unintentional Art of Glass.
- Bickerton, D. 2013. The Panther of Lugash.
- Bickerton, D. 2013. Firmly Grounded.
- Bickerton, D. 2013. Caution.
2012
- Bickerton, D. 2012. Garuda.
- Bickerton, D. 2012. Three Children's pieces.
- Bickerton, D. 2012. Save Our Chariots.
- Bickerton, D. 2012. Blaenwern.
2011
- Bickerton, D. 2011. Ecclesiastical musings.
- Bickerton, D. 2011. This Masquerade.
- Bickerton, D. 2011. Delivered.
- Bickerton, D. 2011. Equation.
2010
- Bickerton, D. 2010. Whimsical.
- Bickerton, D. 2010. When The Stakes Are High.
- Bickerton, D. 2010. The meaning of Alex.
2009
- Bickerton, D. 2009. Lunarscape.
- Bickerton, D. 2009. Epiphany.
- Bickerton, D. 2009. Nocturne.
2008
- Bickerton, D. 2008. The Court Jester.
- Bickerton, D. 2008. A Suite of Eastern Expression.
2007
- Bickerton, D. 2007. On The Edge.
- Bickerton, D. 2007. Phoenix.
- Bickerton, D. 2007. Medusa, Vallejo.
- Bickerton, D. 2007. For a Moment.
- Bickerton, D. 2007. States of Mind.
- Bickerton, D. 2007. Prayer.
- Bickerton, D. 2007. Apokaluptein.
- Bickerton, D. 2007. An Oracle of Earthly and Divine Authority.
2006
- Bickerton, D. 2006. Ocean Sketch.
- Bickerton, D. 2006. Fanfare for Gwent.
- Bickerton, D. 2006. Etifeddiaeth.
2005
- Bickerton, D. 2005. Woodpeckers.
- Bickerton, D. 2005. Genesis.
2004
- Bickerton, D. 2004. Through Their Eyes.
- Bickerton, D. 2004. Foreboding.
2003
- Bickerton, D. 2003. Dreaming.
Undergraduate Teaching:
- Composition (Final Year Portfolio supervisor)
- 20th Century Contrapuntal Practice
- Orchestration
- Studio Techniques (Electro-Acoustic Composition)
- I also co-ordinate the practical musicianship modules at the School of Music (including Ensemble).
Postgraduate Teaching:
- Music Leadership and Public Engagement
- Ensemble
- Studio Techniques (Electro-Acoustic Composition)
- I have also supervised MA Composition portfolio students
CMG Directing:
- I also direct the annual CMG 'composer celebration' workshop and concerts in the Autumn Semester. Previous concerts have included:
- 2013: Britten Centenary Celebration (feat. The Cardon Ensemble)
- 2014: The Triumph of Time? Responses to Birtwistle at 80
- 2015: La Monte Young at 80
- I will be directing the next in this series, 'Reich at 80' on November 24, 2016 at the School of Music.
Overview and recent projects:
As a composer I am particularly interested in musical intertextuality. I enjoy writing chamber music in particular, but also music for jazz ensemble. Over the last twelve months, recent new works have included Invictus for SATB choir (performed by Cor Aduniad, dir. Geraint Davies) and a collection of piano solos, Tyne Cot Sketches (performed at St George's Memorial Church, Ypres). Weather By Funk was recently performed by Nathan Jorgensen's 'Four o'clock Band' at the Johnson Theatre, Paul Creative Arts Centre (New Hampshire) and by the Cardiff University Big Band at the Gent Music Festival, Belgium. A new work for the Adventus Saxophone Quartet as well as two pieces for alto saxophone (performed by Alexander Davis), Eclipse (2015) and Even Though It's Breaking, Imagine (2016) have received various UK performances.
Some of my recordings are available on my SoundCloud page: https://soundcloud.com/daniel-bickerton-2
Forthcoming project:
I have been commissioned by Music for Youth, in collaboration with music services from South Wales, to compose a new work for the upcoming MFY Proms concert series in November 2016. The project will focus on aspects of technological development in the 21st Century and is for a large ensemble featuring approximately 600 young musicians. I will be directing the world premiere performance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 16, 2016. The new work is called #CONNECT and will feature electro-acoustics, produced at the university recording studios. In addition to achieving funding from the above sponsors, I successfully attracted full funding from CUROP in order to give an undergraduate student (Timothy Johnston, Year 3 BMus) the opportunity to work in close collaboration with me on several aspects of this production between June and September 2016. (Information about the CUROP scheme can be found at: learning.cf.ac.uk/curop) Details about the concert series can be found at: mfy.org.uk/coreseason/mfyproms
