Amelia Clarkson (b. 1995) is a composer from County Down. Her creative practice is centred on navigating potent political issues, juxtaposing folk and classical influences in her approach. Amelia was recently awarded the Mendelssohn Scholarship, supporting her current PhD at the Royal Northern College of Music. Supervised by Laura Bowler and Gary Carpenter, her research is focused on creating new music for dance. Prior, Amelia received her Bachelors from Cardiff University and Masters from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, supported as a Trinity College London Scholar and by the RVW Trust. She was the first composer to receive the Worshipful Company of Musicians medal for Trinity Laban, joining the Yeomen Young Artist programme.
Amelia’s work has been performed by ensembles and performers including Crash Ensemble, Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, Love Music Collective, soprano Alison Langer, pianist Lana Bode and harpist Oliver Wass. Recent performances include those Opera Holland Park, Kings Place, the South Bank Centre, Wigmore Hall and the Presteigne, Leeds Lieder and Herne Hill Festivals. Amelia was a 2021 Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble Early Career Composer supported by the PRS Foundation Talent Development Partnership. She received the National Concert Hall and Sounding the Feminists Emerging/Mid-Career commissioning prize, commissioning I AM LEDA, which was premiered by the ensemble at SARC in 2022.
A primary focus area in Amelia’s work is in writing for dance. Most recently, she finished a new film Corners commissioned by the London Sinfonietta for mobile application. She is currently completing the score for new ballet, White Doves created in collaboration with choreographer Ruaidhrí Maguire, for premiere in Belfast in August 2023. Amelia’s practice has received support from PRS Foundation Women Make Music, Hinrichsen Foundation, Vaughan Williams Foundation and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.