Christian Mason

Christian Mason (b. 1984, London), composer and theremin player, read music and composition at the University of York, gaining a starred first (BA) and distinction (MA). Currently working towards an AHRC funded PhD with George Benjamin at King’s College London, Christian previously studied composition with Sinan Savaskan, Nicola LeFanu, Thomas Simaku, and Julian Anderson. He has also participated in summer courses and festivals including the Stockhausen Courses, Dartington, Royaumont Voix Nouvelles 2007, Acanthes 2008 and Takefu International Festival 2008, where he was an invited composer.

During March/April 2008 Christian assisted Sir Harrison Birtwistle on the production of the Minotaur at the Royal Opera House, and has since continued to work as assistant to Birtwistle. Christian also has a continued interest in collaborating with artists of other disciplines. He has worked with choreographers and dancers at the NSCD in Leeds (2006) and on the Transforme project at Royaumont, where he is involved in an ongoing project with choreographers Christina Towle and Laurence Pages. He has collaborated with Performance Artist Barbara Keal on the piece 'Songs for the Last Slam Door Train', for 20 amateur voices, which took place on the last such train (between London and East Grinstead) in November 2005. In July/August 2009 Christian composed the music for 'Another Door Closed' by Peter Gill, part of the 2009 Peter Hall season at Theatre Royal Bath.

Recently awarded the 2009 RPS Prize, from 2005-2008 he was shortlisted by the Society for the Promotion of New Music. His music has been commissioned and/or performed by Midori, Mieko Kanno, Elysian Quartet, Okeanos Plus, Ensemble Cairn, Next Mushroom Promotion, London Sinfonietta, Opera North Orchestra, LSO, and BBC Philharmonic under such conductors as Elgar Howarth, Francois-Xavier Roth, James MacMillan, Sylvio Gualda, Guillaume Bourgogne, Pavel Kotla and Baldur Bronnimann. It has also been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and is soon due for CD release on the London Sinfonietta Label.

As a theremin player, Christian (a student of Lydia Kavina) practices and teaches a 'classical' technique. He has performed and recorded in York and London, and given demonstrations at University of York and Trinity College of Music.