Composer and Professor of Composition, University of Aberdeen

Paul Mealor is one of the world’s most performed living composers. His two operas, four symphonies, music for film and television, over one-hundred published choral works and numerous compositions for ensemble have entered the repertoire and received multiple awards and honours. These include a BAFTA nomination (‘Wonders of the Celtic Deep’, BBC1 Wales TV natural history Series, 2022), a Brit Award (2012) and two Classic Brit Awards (2012, 2014) and The Saltire Society’s Fletcher of Saltoun Award for outstanding contribution to Arts and Humanities (2020).

His many commissions for Royal and national occasions include ‘Ubi caritas’ (2011) for the Wedding of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; ‘Per Ardua ad Astra’ commissioned by HM’s Royal Air Force as the RAF’s first official hymn (2021); ‘I Shall Not Die, But Live’ for Scotland’s National Service of Thanksgiving for the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II (2022) sung by Karen Matheson in Gaelic at St Giles Cathedral; ‘A Welsh Prayer’ for the Welsh National Service of Thanksgiving for the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II (2022) sung at Llandaff Cathedral and two works for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla (2023) performed at the Coronation, Westminster Abbey – Coronation Kyrie (sung by Sir Bryn Terfel) and Fanfare (performed by the Fanfare Band after the crowning of King Charles).