Thirteen might be unlucky for some but for composer Joe Stollery it is a number which defines his student journey.
Joe first began his musical association with the University of Aberdeen at the age of 13 when he joined the concert band. Today – 13 years after he first began life as an undergraduate student – he will collect a Doctorate in Musical Composition, crossing the stage as an Aberdeen graduate for the third time.
Joe, 30, has been working towards his PhD part-time for the last six years under the supervision of Professor Phillip Cooke and Dr John De Simone, while at the same time building a growing reputation as a freelance composer.
Originally from Monymusk, the north-east landscape inspires much of his work and, during his time as a student, he wrote over fifty pieces of music. These include an opera performed on the slopes of Bennachie, three pieces inspired by paintings from Aberdeen Art Gallery which were performed there in front of the paintings which inspired them, and a forty-minute piece for orchestra around the environmental impact of the building of Donald Trump’s Golf Course in Aberdeenshire.
Joe said: “I remember coming to concerts at the University at an early age and I know these had an important influence on my musical upbringing.
“As an autistic student, I was keen not to go too far away from home, so Aberdeen was the ideal choice, but also, because of its excellent Music Department and the opportunities that there were for studying composition and having compositions performed.
“I first played the saxophone with the concert band back in 2006 and it was a real honour to write a piece of music for them and hear it performed at the Aberdeen Music Hall in 2021.”
Having already collected a first-class BMus Hons degree in 2015, followed by an MMus with Distinction in 2016, graduation will mark the conclusion of his student journey but not the end of his long association with the University.
“I’ll be keeping in touch by attending University concerts and playing in University ensembles as well as attending lectures and research seminars,” he added.
“I now hope to continue to build my work as a composer, staying in the north-east for the time being, where I find so much musical inspiration.”