Biography

Adrian Lee

Composer and guitarist Adrian Lee is one of the leading music creatives in contemporary UK theatre. Adrian’s output comprises over 60 scores for theatre, TV, radio, film, dance and music theatre. He has worked extensively with theatre companies including the Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Young Vic Theatre. TV scores include music for documentaries broadcast by BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

His compositions have pioneered the integration of world music performance traditions and styles in mainstream media productions and his scores demonstrate a broad spectrum of compositional approach, from devised works, the use of improvisation through to fully-notated compositions. Gamelan music of Southeast Asia figures prominently in his output with collaborations and scores performed in the UK, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Electric guitar

Adrian’s recent work embraces curating / composing / performing new works for electric guitar ensembles in the contemporary classical music context. In Hexagram 2014, Adrian launched Ludi Quartet, his electric guitar quartet performing new works and minimalist music for the quartet in a 5-venue UK tour. In Scratch Electric 2015, Adrian convened a mixed ability ensemble of learner to professional electric guitarists to perform new and minimal works for the electric guitar ensemble. Adrian’s creative collaborations with Falmouth University music students together with guitarist Adrian Utley (Portishead), 2016-17, helped to innovate ways of creating, arranging and performing new works for electric guitar ensembles. Through the Sound and Music Portfolio scheme, Adrian has led Ludi Quartet in the first set of Portfolio workshops for 3 new commissions in Prussia Cove (2017). Adrian is also involved with the Paraorchestra and Tactile as a performer / creative collaborator.

Workshop leader

Adrian has worked with musicians from learner to professional, as well as with gamelan musicians, actors, dancers and musicians / actors in the disabled arts sector to create new works in a range of different contexts. Recent projects include Sensing Nature with blind musicians in the Norfolk / Ipswich area, RPO’s Visual Impairment Programme, RNIB music study day at Wigmore Hall, Firebird Theatre, etc. Adrian has also begun to develop a profile as an experienced and discerning workshop / creative leader in disability music & theatre groups.

Theatre

TV &  Radio

Improvisation

Electric Guitar

Photo Gallery

Ludi St Pancras Old Church

LUDI QUARTET, electric guitar quartet, led by Adrian Lee


thumbnail_Electric guitar students workshop 2016 l-r Adrian Utley Adrian Lee Falmouth University students

Falmouth University music students at electric guitar creative workshops facilitated by Adrian Lee and Adrian Utley (Portishead)


thumbnail_Scratch Electric Orchestra

Scratch Electric orchestra, Nottingham 2015, led by Adrian Lee consisting of learners, young emerging guitarists and Ludi Quartet performing new works and minimalist music for electric guitar orchestra


thumbnail_SE Play in C

Scratch Electric orchestra performing Terry Riley’s ‘In C’


thumbnail_Adrian Lee with Ludi Quartet and Sound And Music Portfolio composers l-r Phil Innes Adrian Lee Adrian Utley

Adrian Lee with Ludi Quartet at Sound And Music Portfolio workshops for composers, Prussia Cove, December 2017


thumbnail_Kayu Gangsa Malay gamelan ensemble (Nottingham) performing Adrian Lees music at Trafalgar Square

Kayu Gangsa Malay gamelan ensemble (Nottingham) performing Adrian Lee’s music in Trafalgar Square


Recent press reviews

Louder Than War online review, Scratch Electric 2015

Scratch Electric: Nottingham Contemporary – live review