Dr Gemma McGregor

Biography

Gemma McGregor is a freelance composer, performer and curator whose work crosses the boundaries of musical genres and is often multi-disciplinary. Winner of the Ogston Postgraduate Scholarship and the W.R. Aim Memorial Prize, she was awarded a doctorate by University of Aberdeen in 2017. Gemma is interested in depicting consciousness and exploring images of time and place in sound. She has created many interdisciplinary performances and collaborated with visual artists, including Anne Bevan, Alan Watson and Craig Ellis, writers Pam Beasant and Duncan Maclean, and film-maker Mark Jenkins. She has created sound-art installations and written music for film. Her music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Orkney and Classic FM. Gemma is curator and director of The Experimental Music Project, who perform multi-disciplinary works at the Pier Arts Centre, Stromness.

Gemma's first opera, The Locked Door, was performed as part of Sound Festival in 2015, and her opera, The Story of Magnus Erlendsson, was performed at St Magnus International Festival in 2017. During 2018 to 2021, Gemma’s music received performances by Strathclyde University Chamber Choir, Nordic Viola, Rolf Hind, CoMA, Illuminate, Godolphin Vocal Ensemble and the Summartónar Festival. Gemma was awarded a residency at the Red House, Aldeburgh, in 2019 to begin work on a new chamber opera. She has been invited to attend another residency in 2022 to complete this third opera.

External Memberships

Incorporated Society of Musicians

Scottish Music Centre

Performing Rights Society

British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors

New Music Scotland

Prizes and Awards

Ogston Postgraduate Scholarship

W.R. Aim Memorial Prize