Composer and Musician
Lisa Mears
Composer and Musician
Lisa Mears
Lisa began composing whilst at Malvern Girls' College where she studied piano, violin and voice as a Music Scholar. Lisa subsequently gained a Music degree from Bristol University before studying for a Master of Music degree in Composition with Lynne Plowman and Christopher Painter at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama / University of Wales, graduating in 2004. While a student, her compositions were performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, PM Ensemble, RWCMD Symphony Orchestra, RWCMD Chamber Choir as well as student and professional singers and instrumentalists.
Following completion of her studies, Lisa's song cycle Cinco Canciones Espanolas and Mosaic Counterpoint, for mixed chamber ensemble, were Highly Commended by the Society for the Promotion of New Music and Mosaic Counterpoint was the winning entry in the BSO Kokoro Ensemble Composition Competition. Other competition successes include the Cornwall International Festival of Male Voice Choirs Composition Competition 2012 (shortlisted), Small Choirs Festival London Composition Competition 2012 (finalist) and 2013 (first prize), Ely Consort Cambridge Composition Competition 2015 (shortlisted), East Cornwall Bach Choir Composition Competition 2016 (finalist) and, following a worldwide selection process, Lisa was successful in gaining a place on the Professional Development programme at Noel Music Management, London for 2016. Some of Lisa's compositions have been published by Canasg and Concert A Publishing.
Further commissions and performances followed by soloists and groups including the Ariosa Singers in Swansea and on their Dublin and Edinburgh tours, Altitude Viola & Piano duo, former Royal Harpist Hannah Stone and baritone Gary Griffiths at the Lower Machen Festival, Swansea Philharmonic Choir, Harlow Singers, Organist Huw Tregelles Williams OBE, Amici Chamber Choir Wales, soloists from Welsh National Opera and by church choirs around the UK. Lisa's compositions have also been showcased at 'Composers of Wales' concerts in Cardiff.
Lisa was selected to represent Welsh Composers at a BBC televised debate at the Wales Millennium Centre and her music has been performed at venues including Llandaff Cathedral, Lighthouse Arts Centre Poole, Wales Millennium Centre, Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church London, Trinity Laban Conservatoire and at St. Mary's Cathedral and Cannongate Kirk in Edinburgh.
Lisa's Ave Maria, Ave Virgo Sanctissima and Pie Jesu have been broadcast on BBC Radio Devon and Soundart Radio and some of her piano music has been featured on BBC Sounds.
In addition to composing, Lisa is very active as an accompanist and also teaches - please see Services page for further details.
Lisa is a member of Composers of Wales, the Musicians Union and is a Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.