About

Hi!

I am a composer, musician and teacher based in London.  I love composing for all sorts of situations: concerts, choirs, films, podcasts and more. I have a diverse set of musical interests and love to explore.

I love to work closely with players on creating new timbres and sounds from instruments. I work with improvisation, soundscape and electronic sounds. 

I have written for a variety of media projects, including films, theatre, dance, podcasts.

My composition is complemented by my work as an experienced teacher of music. I teach composition at Westminster School and freelance (learn with me!).

Jago Thornton

Me

extended Biography

Jago is a composer with influences from improvisation, jazz and electronics — his music begins with (but does not end at) extended techniques, resonances, microtones and atmosphere. Jago is currently Teacher of Composition at Westminster School. He was Composer in Residence in Eton College. Jago’s interests are wide in scope; he works variously with electronics, performance art, theatre and traditional paper composition; he thrives in collaborative and interdisciplinary settings. Jago is active as a singer and pianist and performer with live electronics.

Jago studied at the Rotterdams Conservatorium, Codarts under Robin de Raaff and Rene Uijlenhoet, and received an award winning double-first from the University of Cambridge, studying composition under Christian Mason. Recent premieres have included the televised premiere of Crystal Projections, as part of the BBC Young Musician competition. Jago has written works for notable ensembles, including as part of De Doelen’s ‘Red Sofa’ series, which included a piece for the Doelen Kwartet‘s 25th anniversary concert and for the Stolz Kwartet. Jago won the Cambridge University Composer’s Competition and was commissioned to write for the Britten Sinfonia, in this process he also worked with the BCMG. His works have been premiered at the Cambridge Young Composers’ Meeting, the Cambridge Summer Music Festival and at Eton College. Jago has written for numerous other concerts, events and choral services. Jago’s work with theatre has seen him musically direct, sound design and write music for productions such as the internationally-touring Cambridge American Stage Tour, productions the Edinburgh Festival and in the Cambridge ADC theatres. Interdisciplinary projects have included Art Break, an evening-long performance in Rotterdam’s Fenix Factory; and origin:axis, an intermedia performance-art duo. Jago founded and directed the Tarwewijk Choir, projects of which have included public interventions in unusual spaces as well as collaboration with visual artists and community groups. Jago is an experienced choral and orchestral conductor and has produced concerts and events, often promoting new music. Jago was a fellow at Classical:Next; he was awarded a Hartmann Award (Codarts, Rotterdam) for his masters’ composition work; a Postgraduate Study Award from the Countess of Munster Trust; a Foundation Scholarship and the Hanson Prize from Pembroke College, Cambridge for his academic and compositional work as well as awards for excellence in composition and piano from Hampshire County Music Service.