Geoffrey Alvarez (b.London 1961) played under conductors such as Pierre Boulez and Simon Rattle in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, from 1974 to 1975. At this time he founded an orchestra under the patronage of Sir Colin Davis, writing a concerto for Michael Collins and Peter Kronheimer and a Symphony, both played by his orchestra. He was subsequently a Leverhulme Scholar at the Royal Academy of Music.

Whilst being a postgraduate at the University of York, he participated in the 1986 International Dance Course for Professional Choreographers and Composers. In 1989, he obtained a Doctorate in Composition from York, having helped rebuild the university’s New Music Ensemble - Anemone.

Returning to London in 1990, he taught Ethnomusicology and Classical Performance/Analysis at Goldsmiths College; the same year being awarded a composition prize in the Royal Overseas League Music Competition. In 1998 he tutored composition at the Caithness Summer Music School.

 

Biography adapted from: http://www.compositiontoday.com/geoffrey_alvarez/