Biography

Rylan Gleave (b 1997) is a composer and vocalist from the north of England, currently based in Glasgow. His compositions over the last few years have included chamber works about navigating neurodiversity, defiantly Queer sound art, morality-tale narratives for Deaf actors, duets for out-of-tune piano and snoring, and relaxed concert music for children with Additional Support Needs. Rylan is fascinated by addressing the intersectional issues that overlap in his identity and communities in music, and strives to address these issues as both composer and performer, often taking to the stage in his own pieces.

Rylan is one of JACK Studio’s Artists, 2020-2022, with his work, in waves, selected for a professional recording project by JACK Quartet. in waves was originally commissioned by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for the Edinburgh Quartet, in collaboration with The University of Stirling Arts Collection, Beag Horn, and Kirstie Cohen. It was premiered by Crossing Borders Music, in Chicago, who selected it for a concert of Disabled composers around the world, and invited Rylan to co-host as a featured artist. Crossing Borders Music broadcast in waves again at the Back of The Yards Chicago Public Library, with Rylan as a panelist. Internationally also, Rylan was awarded 2nd Prize in the Diversity Initiative Call for Scores 2020 Septet Category, and an Honourable Mention in the Trio Category.

Locally, recent commissions have come from sound Scotland, Red Note Ensemble, Nevis Ensemble and Hebrides Ensemble. Diversions with his work Permanent Address played by the Hebrides Ensemble, in collaboration with Drake Music Scotland, was awarded two Scottish New Music Awards 2020; The RCS Award for Making it Happen and The ISM Music Prize for Collaborations, and will be performed again by Red Note Ensemble in soundfestival 2021. winding through seaweed was premiered on BBC Radio 3; Classics Unwrapped, within Nevis Ensemble’s Lochan Sketches 2020, and will feature in a specialty concert on Trans Radio UK, 2021. Rylan has been fortunate enough to work also with The Cumnock Tryst, Composers+ Academy, DaDaFest, Sonic Bothy, National Theatre of Scotland, National Youth Dance Company of Scotland, Any Enemy Ensemble, and RCS MusicLab.

Commissioned by Live Music Now Scotland and Kimie Trust, in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Rylan was awarded the Kimie Composition Prize 2018. This led to Six Weather Pictures, premiered by the Gelos Duo at The Yard, Edinburgh, in a concert for children with Additional Support Needs. Six Weather Pictures has had movements played on Clyde Built Radio, featured on the Scottish Saxophone Academy website, requested for Trans Radio UK, and the Hutchens/Myers Duo have commissioned a bespoke version for marimba and saxophone. He was also awarded the Walter and Dinah Wolfe Memorial Award, 2019, adjudicated by Philip Venables in collaboration with the RCS, with his chosen string quartet Don’t call me that! premiered by the Brodick Quartet in PLUG Festival, 2019.

As a vocalist, Rylan performs live with theatrical black metal band Ashenspire, and as a live and recording artist for contemporary vocal works. He also sings as a baritone with Wellington Church Choir, in the West End of Glasgow, and sang previously with the Hallé Youth Choir. After recording vocals for Adam with National Theatre of Scotland, Rylan was interviewed alongside Harrison Knights by the BBC about LGBTQIA+, especially trans, representation in music. Recent collaborations with Rylan as a performer have been with Rufus Isabel Elliot, Finn Patrick McLean, Amaya López-c (Maud the Moth), S. McLean, and Amit Anand. As a vocal tutor, he holds an ABRSM Teaching Diploma, and has worked on projects with MusicALL, COMA Glasgow, and OVER / AT, in addition to taking private students.

Rylan is currently studying a Master of Music degree with Linda Buckley at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, supported by The Kenneth Barrett Scholarship from the RCS Trust, and The Glasgow Educational and Marshall Trust, after graduating from his Bachelor of Music Degree with First Class Honours in 2019, with David Fennessy. Previously, he attended Chetham’s School of Music, studying as a vocalist and pianist, with preliminary training with Professor Heather Slade-Lipkin. He is working on more pieces for Red Note and soundfestival, PLUG Festival 2021, with Psappha Ensemble, Jennifer Langridge and Benjamin Powell on their Composing for… scheme.

Award: Silver Medal, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 2020

Page updated: December 2020

Photo Credit: Unknown