Dr Susannah Self is a British composer, conductor and former mezzo soprano whose work spans opera, orchestral music and choral composition.
She is a highly successful woman in what is predominantly a man's world. Her compositions garner international acclaim.
After an international singing career of more than 25 years, she turned her focus to composition, earning both an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in Composition from Birmingham Conservatoire. She originally trained at the Royal College of Music, where she studied singing, composition and conducting, and also received scholarships from the Royal Society of Arts and the Banff Centre in Canada, where she worked with the pioneering composer John Cage.
Self has composed four operas, including The Butt, based on Will Self's novel and premiered at the Musiktheatertage Festival in Vienna, and Quilt Song, first performed in Birmingham in 2018. Her orchestral catalogue includes four symphonies, two of which have been recorded by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra. Her music has been commissioned by organisations including the Arts Council England, Birmingham Opera Company, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and the Spitalfields Festival, and is published by Composers Edition.
Alongside her composing, Dr Self teaches at Junior Guildhall and has conducted numerous operatic productions. As a performer, she appeared with leading opera companies across Europe, including the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, Opera North and the Vlaamse Opera, singing a wide repertoire from Mozart and Britten to Philip Glass and contemporary works. Today, she continues to combine composition, conducting and education while championing new music and opera.
Key points of the episode:
- Her life, composing and life in a man's world.
- Is her world as glamourous as it looks?
- How she was originally advised to be an opera singer and why.
- How employment differs in the UK and Europe and the best way to succeed.
- What she was like as a little 3 year old girl
- How women composers were discouraged.
- The flow state of composing.
- The therapy she went through - Jungian style.
- The delicious response her therapist had to her doubts.
- Her amazing relationship with her "perfect match" partner
- How composers earn money (at the top)
- ....and not.
- Conducter - or poet?
- How she makes a living- the same as the greats..
- Her sense of and interest in spirituality, but not religion as such.
- How brave you have to be- self daring
- What she would say to her 3 year old self.
See her on her publishers websites
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