Welsh composer Alex Scaife-McGee's work, 'A River Reborn' has won the 2024 Richmond Brass Band Composition Competition, organised in association with London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

It is the latest recognition for the MD of the South Wales Police Band, the Carmarthen branch of the Rusty Player's Orchestra as well as the National Police Memorial Service. In 2024 he won the Cardiff University Composition competition and has built up a critically acclaimed catalogue of original compositions and arrangements in recent years.

River Thames

Speaking about the award and the work, he told 4BR: "When I saw the brief I was immediately drawn to the mighty River Thames and began to look into the history of the watercourse, with specific reference to its ecology, flora and fauna.

What I found was both shocking and encouraging, with the river's journey from being 'biologically dead' to becoming a thriving watercourse once again. This was such an inspiration for composition."

Journey

He added: "The work takes us the listener on a journey from the industrial damage inflicted on it in the past, through to revitalised river of today, celebrating landmarks on its course and the plant and animal life that it now supports.

However, the composition ends with a cautionary warning, reminding us to never again treat our greatest river with such contempt!"

Premiere

'A River Reborn' will be premiered at the Richmond Brass Band Spring Concert on 29th March and performed at various events throughout the year.

To find out more about Alex's music go to:
https://alexmcgeemd.weebly.com/#/