Michael Finnissy

Michael Finnissy is a renowned English composer, pianist, and educator, born in Tulse Hill, London, in 1946. His musical journey began at the age of four, and by eighteen, he had secured a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music, where he honed his skills in composition and piano. Finnissy's prolific career is marked by a dramatic urgency and expressive immediacy that sets his avant-garde compositions apart. He has taught at prestigious institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Southampton, where he served as an Emeritus Professor of Music. Finnissy's work spans various genres and instruments, with notable pieces like "Beat Generation Ballads" and "English Country-Tunes." His music often draws on both canonical and obscure musical traditions, making him one of the most chameleonic and articulate composers of his generation. Finnissy's contributions to contemporary music have been recognized with awards, including two British Composer Awards in 2015.