John McLeod (composer)

John McLeod was a Scottish composer who wrote music in many media.

Biography

He was born in Aberdeen, but later settled in Edinburgh. He initially studied clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music with Jack Brymer, Reginald Kell, and Gervase de Peyer, but then switched to composition with Sir Lennox Berkeley.
McLeod was Associate Composer of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from 1980 to 1982 and the orchestra commissioned Out of the Silence, premiered in 2015. His works have also been performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra has broadcast 12 of his major orchestral works, including the London premiere of The Sun Dances at the BBC Proms in 2014. The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland has regularly featured his work in over 20 concerts, including the Piano Concerto in 2015, when it was conducted by the composer with James Willshire as soloist in Glasgow and Dundee.
His Clarinet Concerto was premiered at the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh on 13 May 2007 by the Meadows Chamber Orchestra with soloist Jean Johnson.
Other notable orchestral works include the Percussion Concerto, Symphonies of Stone and Water, the Guitar Concerto and the Viola Concerto. McLeod also composed choral music, chamber music, and numerous songs and song cycles.
A double CD of his complete piano music was recorded live from four concerts at Stoller Hall in Manchester, August 2017. It includes the five piano sonatas, the Four Impromptus, Five Hebridean Dances, Two Balinese Rituals and the 12 Preludes.
In 2014, McLeod was rewarded with a BASCA Gold Badge Award. This was in recognition of his unique contribution to music. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to music.
John McLeod died in Edinburgh on 24 March 2022 aged 88, six months after the death of his wife Margaret, who was a respected piano adjudicator and examiner.