Lisa Mears

Lisa Mears

Lisa’s interest in composing began during her time at Malvern Girls’ College where she studied Piano, Violin and Voice as a Music Scholar. Lisa subsequently gained a Music degree from Bristol University in 2000 before studying for a Master of Music degree in Composition with Lynne Plowman and Christopher Painter at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating in 2004.

In 2004 Lisa’s song cycle Cinco Canciones Espanolas and Mosaic Counterpoint were Highly Commended by the Society for the Promotion of New Music. In 2006 Mosaic Counterpoint, for mixed chamber ensemble, was the winning entry in the BSO Kokoro Ensemble Composition Competition and was performed at The Lighthouse Arts Centre in Poole. Further commissions and performances followed by soloists and groups including the youth choir, Ariosa Singers and their soloists, Altitude Viola & Piano duo, Royal Harpist Hannah Stone & Baritone Gary Griffiths at the Lower Machen Festival, the Swansea Philharmonic Choir and Lisa’s compositions have been showcased at ‘Composers of Wales’ concerts. Lisa was also selected to represent Welsh Composers at a BBC televised debate at the Wales Millennium Centre and her music has also been performed by Violinist, Christopher Horner, at Llandaff Cathedral. Lisa’s Ave Maria, Ave Virgo Sanctissima and Pie Jesu have been broadcast on BBC Radio Devon and Soundart Radio.

In 2010 Lisa recorded a disc of her piano music entitled Music for Meditation and future discs are currently being planned. Lisa was a shortlisted composer in the Cornwall International Festival of Male Voice Choirs Composition Competition 2012 and a finalist in the Small Choirs Festival Composition Competition 2012. Her composition Day by Day was premiered at the Festival in London in February 2013.

Lisa’s Missa Brevis was premiered in July 2013 at the St. Teilo’s Church Festival of Faith, Arts and Flowers, Bishopston, Swansea, by Amici Chamber Choir, soloists from Welsh National Opera and organist Huw Tregelles Williams OBE, in memory of tenor and musician Christopher Waring Davies and her carol No Room at the Inn was performed at several carol services in 2013 and 2014. Lisa was also awarded First Prize in the Small Choirs Composition Competition 2013 for her composition There is no rose of such virtue which was premiered at the Festival in London in February 2014. Following the Small Choirs Festivals, Lisa’s compositions have been performed at St. Chad’s Church, Chadwell Heath and St. Mary’s Church, Balham, London as well as St. Michael’s and All Angels Church, Romford, Essex. Lisa’s compositions Hosanna, The Upper Room and Mary’s Lament were also premiered in Swansea during Holy Week, April 2014. Some of Lisa’s instrumental compositions have been published by Concert A Publishing.

Forthcoming projects and performances include the premiere of All things Bright and Beautiful by the Choral Scholars of All Saints Church, Oystermouth and performances of the Ave Maria and There is no rose of such virtue in addition to composing new pieces for sopranos Elin Manahan Thomas and Ros Evans. In addition to composing, Lisa held the post of Lecturer in Music Performance / Accompanist at Gower College Swansea from 2006-2014 and in 2013 was appointed Music Lecturer on the South Wales ‘Higher Education Plus’ Scheme affiliated to Cambridge University. Lisa currently undertakes freelance performing and teaching work and in 2012 was appointed Guest Tutor for the Ariosa Singers and in 2013 Chorus Repetiteur for the Mumbles Voices Community Choir, both choirs directed by Penny Ryan OBE.