Judith Weir
(c) Chester Music Chris Christodoulou
As expected, Buckingham Palace announced today Judith Weir as Master of the Queen’s Musick, the first woman to be appointed in this job. Weir was born in 1954 in Cambridge, England, into a Scottish family, but grew up near London. She was an oboe player and had a few composition lessons with John Tavener during her schooldays (North London Collegiate School). She subsequently studied composition with Robin Holloway at King’s College, Cambridge (Cambridge University), graduating in 1976.
Judith Weir spent several years as a community musician in rural southern England, followed by a period based in Scotland, teaching at Glasgow University and RSAMD. Since the 1990’s she has lived in south London. From 1995 to 2000, she was the Artistic Director of the Spitalfields Festival in London. She has continued to teach, presently at Cardiff University, where she has been a Visiting Professor since 2006.
Judith Weir’s music often draws on sources from medieval history, as well as the traditional stories and music of her native Scotland. She is best known for her operas and theatrical works, although she has also achieved international recognition for her orchestral and chamber works.
