Joanna Nicholson
This is art going where neither the humanities nor science can begin to tread.
The Quinntessential Review
Joanna is a clarinettist and composer based in Scotland, known for bringing theatrical context to her work, and collaborating with artists of different disciplines. She composed Aud the Deep Minded over two years, having previously created five musical dramas for children with her company Sonsie Music. Aud has been described by Skinners Music Review as "not just one of the best shows at the [Edinburgh] Fringe this year—it’s one of the most original and affecting pieces of music-theatre in recent memory. "
Joanna has worked extensively as a freelance orchestral player, notably with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with whom she was a bass clarinet soloist at the London Proms and on CD, as well as with all the major orchestras and ensembles in Scotland, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, RTÉ Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and with diverse less mainstream outfits such as Yiddish Song Project, The Matilda Brown Ensemble, Turning the Elements, Red Note Ensemble and The Night With…
She has recorded a solo album, Gyre, which was shortlisted in the Scottish Awards for New Music, with performances of her own composition Gyre as well as William Sweeney's epic Nine Days Piobeareachd.
She lives on the Moray coast, and is currently working on a score for the horror film HomeSmartHome.