Former Birkenhead High School pupil wins top music award

Jan 7 2009 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

A FORMER Birkenhead High School for Girls pupil has won a major music award.

Emily Howard, who is Liverpool City Council’s composer in residence, has received the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award of £45,000.

Emily has completed a number of high profile commissions, her piece Magnetite opening the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Capital of Culture season, under the baton of principal conductor, Vasily Petrenko.

The award money will be spread into equal payments over three years, and will allow Emily to continue to develop her already successful career as one of the UK’s most promising new talents.

Emily is also studying for a PhD under the supervision of renowned composer Professor John Casken at the University of Manchester, and she teaches composition at the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Leeds.