It is music fit for Royalty — and now the Queen has received a unique birthday gift written by Holmfirth composer Thomas Brown.
Thomas, a winner of the BBC Inspire Young Composers’ Competition, still lives in Holmfirth when he’s not studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
He was asked by Holme Valley Parish Council if he would be interested in composing a piece of music to mark Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.
His piece, Yon Green Garden – Music for a Royal Celebration quotes the Holmfirth Anthem Pratty Flowers as well as the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, rumoured to be one of Her Majesty’s favourites.
He worked with school friend, sound engineer and University of Surrey Tonmeister student, Jamie Philokyprou, to conduct the Hade Edge Brass Band – where he began to learn the cornet 15 years ago – in a recording of the piece which has now been delivered to the Queen.
Thomas said: “It was an honour to write a piece for this special occasion.
“As a resident of Holmfirth it was wonderful to be asked by Holme Valley Parish Council to mark this milestone and I hope it finds favour with Her Majesty.”
Jamie added: “Working with Thomas on this piece was an exciting project.
“The contrasting textures in the music required careful consideration, both in the production and the actual recording session.
“It was a pleasure to work with a fun and hospitable team, all local to the Holme Valley.”
The piece was also performed at parish chairman Kathleen Bellamy’s civic luncheon and at the parish council’s tea party for local 90-year-olds.
Thomas is a former Holmfirth High School student where he took part in many events including the School’s Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.
At this time, he arranged music to accompany Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts.
His BBC Inspire Young Composers’ Competition winning entry was performed by members of the Aurora Orchestra at the 2013 BBC Proms and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and Holme Valley Parish Council awarded him its first ever Exceptional Achievers Award as recognition for winning the competition.
Since then, he has gained further opportunities at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
He often conducts his own work, spent a year at the helm of Glasgow University Brass Band and is currently a member of the Kirkintilloch Brass Band.
A former student of Chetham’s School of Music, he studied composition, trumpet and piano, and was awarded the Douglas Steele Award for Composition.
