| Introducing Colin Currie |
Edinburgh-born Currie came to national attention in 1992 at the age of fifteen, when he won the Gold Medal of the Shell/London Symphony Orchestra Music Scholarship. In 1994 he became the first percussion finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, giving the world premiere of Errollyn Wallen's Concerto for Percussion in the final at London's Barbican Centre, televised live to an estimated eleven million viewers. Currie has a particularly strong association with James MacMillan's concert Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, which he has played all over the world. His recent recording of the work with the Ulster Orchestra was released by Naxos in July. "Colin Currie, despite his youth, is a veteran of the work and turns in a performance to match that of the original soloist... It is a welcome reminder that Scotland does not boast just one world-class percussionist." (BBC Music Magazine) The sensational Colin Currie plays the concerto with terrific flair... Go get it." (Glasgow Herald). He has a close relationship with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and has also appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo (California) Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia 21, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, with conductors such as Paul Daniel, Marin Alsop, David Robertson, and Martyn Brabbins. Currie will give the world premiere of Michael Torke's Percussion Concerto (which is being written specially for him) in March 2000 with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and has also commissioned a new work from Steve Martland. His recital disc Striking a Balance: Contemporary Percussion Music is available on EMI's Debut series. |
