Andrew Cusworth is a composer and musician who is particularly well known for his choral music and his work with choirs. As well as being performed and broadcast around the globe, his music has been published and recorded, and has received recognition in international competitions.
Raised in Wales, Andrew learned the 'cello, piano, and organ, began composing at the age of fourteen, and conducting at the age of fifteen. He read music at Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar at Magdalene College, and went on to study a masters degree in choral studies, also at Cambridge, studying with Stephen Layton, Stephen Cleobury, Andrew Nethsingha, Jeremy Begbie, and others.
In 2010, he won the inaugural New music for St Paul's Cathedral composition competition. Since then, he has been commissioned by internationally renowned ensembles and soloists, including Calmus Ensemble, the Choir of Salisbury Cathedral, and John Turner, as well as continuing to help to realise the musical aspirations of a wide range of amateur choirs and ensembles through writing that is both flexible and effective. His music has been published by Novello, Curiad, and Tŷ Cerdd, and recorded and performed by artists ranging from community music groups to internationally renowned concert soloists, and including Kantos, Concanenda, John Turner, the BBC Singers, and Calmus Ensemble.
Andrew maintains an independent research profile, having received his PhD for research in Welsh traditional music, archive, cultural history, and digital humanities. He currently works at the University of Oxford as the professional services lead for the Digital Scholarship at Oxford Initiative.
Llyn Cau, Soprano, Recorder, Harp, Piano, for John Turner, in memory of Ian Parrott, 2013
From Castle Hill, Recorder, String quartet, for John Turner, 2009
y Ganolfan, SATB, Trumpet, String Quartet, for Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth, 2021
all our numbered lives, SATBarB, for Calmus Ensemble, 2021
yn un rhith - a choir still, SATB, for Côr ABC and Côr Dinas, 2020
Tollite portas, SATB, for Oxford Mystery Cycle, 2019
Duo seraphim, SSSSSSSAATTBB, 2018, unperformed
Alleluia II, SATB, for Côr ABC, 2017
Gosod fi megis sêl, SSAATB, for Côr ABC, 2017
Duo seraphim, SSSSSSSAATTBB, 2018, unperformed
Gosber, SATB, for Côr ABC, 2014 (published by Curiad)
Alleluia, SS, for Concandenda, 2014
Returning we hear larks, SSAATTBB, for Khoros, 2014
Iesu rex admirabilis, SAB, 2014
Of a rose synge we, SSAATTBB, for Concanenda, 2013
Composed upon Westminster Bridge, SSAATTBB, for Concanenda, 2013
My soul waits, SSAATTBB, 2012, unperformed
i carry your heart with me, SAB, for Edna Greenhalgh and Keith Clarke, 2012
Ave maris stella, SS, Organ, for Choir and Organ and Salisbury Cathedral, 2011
Adam lay ibownden, SAB, 2011 (Published by Novello)
Give ear, O ye heavens, SSAATTBB, 2011
Drop down, ye heavens, SAATB, 2010
There is no rose, SAATB, for Rhinegold Singers, 2010 (Published by Novello)
Factum est silentium, SSAATTBB, Organ, for St Paul's Cathedral, 2010
On music, SATB, alto, violin, violin, for Griffon Choir, 2009
Prayer for a new day, SSAATTBB, clarinet
Strange resolutions, Six trumpets, organ, timpani, tam-tam, for Tenby Arts Festival, 2004
Esgyn Soar, organ, for Theatr Soar, Tŷ Cerdd, and James McVinnie, 2023
Never doubt, alto or tenor, piano, 2013
Phases of desolation, high voice, piano, 2005
Classical Music Digital Awards 2020, Highly Commended, yn un rhith project
King James Bible Awards, 2011, shortlisted,Give ear, O ye heavens
New Music for St Paul's Cathedral Composition Competition, winner, Factum est silentium
all our numbered lives on 41 Statements zur Coronazeit, Calmus Ensemble, 2021
Of a rose synge we on The Silver Stars at Play, Kantos, Ellie Slorach, 2017
From Castle Hill on The Nostalgic Recorder, John Turner, Manchester Camerata, 2015
Composed upon Westminster Bridge on Bright Shadows, Concanenda, Xann Schwinn, 2013
There is no rose on Bright Shadows, Concanenda, Xann Schwinn, 2013
Drop down, ye heavens on Bright Shadows, Concanenda, Xann Schwinn, 2013
There is no rose on Noel! 3, RSVP Singers, David Hill, 2012
y Ganolfan, Côr ABC et al., 2021
all our numbered lives, Calmus Ensemble, 2021
Of a rose synge we, Kantos, 2020
yn un rhith, Côr ABC and Côr Dinas, 2020
Choir chat podcast, October 2017
New music in Choir and Organ, March 2012
King James Bible Awards on The Choir, BBC Radio 3, June 2011
Esgyn Soar (Organ) Tŷ Cerdd, 2023
Gosber (SSAA) Curiad, 2019
Gosber (SATB) Curiad, 2017
Adam lay ibownden (SAMen) in The Novello Book of Short and Easy Anthems, Novello, 2015
There is no rose in Noël! 3, Novello, 2013
There is no rose, Novello, 2012
y Ganolfan, Canolfan y Celfyddydau, Aberystwyth
all our numbered lives, Calmus Ensemble
Tollite portas, St Edmund Hall Choir
Gosod fi megis sêl, Côr ABC
Cofio, Côr Dyfed Choir
Andrew Cusworth’s ‘There Is No Rose‘ is a fantastic new carol that’s a little bit different. It’s easy to sing – in fact I conducted it with my choir last night, and it went down a storm. - Jonathan Wikeley in an interview for Rhinegold Education Blog about There is no rose.
There are many little gems, among them Andrew Cusworth's Of a rose synge we - Robert Beale in Manchester Classical Music about Of a rose synge we
An excellent example of a responsible, learned composer whose work is at once of our own time and of the great continuum of composers. - Kevin O'Brien, D.M.A.
Everything about it suggests inner joy and ecstacy. - 5:4 about Of a rose synge we
The whole piece is well paced and telling use is made of rests and silences which would suit a generous acoustic. Most effective. - Alan Spedding in Organist's review about There is no rose
An entirely engaging work. - Andrew Mayes in The Recorder Magazine about From Castle Hill
This is a piece whose effect greatly exceeds its simple means and it would be welcome in any serious carol service. - Jeremy Summerly in Choir & Organ about There is no rose
Spicy dissonances, lyrical melodies, baleful phrases. Cusworth makes highly effective use of his four stringed instruments as well as challenging his soloist. - Paul Conway in Music Web International about From Castle Hill
Andrew Cusworth's Of a rose synge we has a ravishing Tavener-like simplicity. - Christian Morris in Composition today about Of a rose synge we
In early 2013 I was seeking a work on a Marian text for use with the freshman Women’s Chorus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Andrew Cusworth’s Ave maris stella was suggested by a colleague. I was immediately sold on the work’s merits. Its tonal vocabulary evinced an astute use of modulation and dissonance curve — it was neither easy nor difficult for difficulty’s sake. Its stress and scansion made it clear the composer understood the hymn’s use of the Latin language in both form and content. Its vocal lines were deftly balanced between moments of lyric undulation and moments of shimmering harmonic stasis. In short it fit not only this concert’s programmatic needs; it provided an excellent example of a responsible, learned composer whose work is at once of our own time and of the great continuum of composers. This was precisely what I sought in a semester’s work for these young musicians, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to perform it. - Kevin M. O'Brien, DMA, Lecturer of Music, Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, The Catholic University of America
If you are interested in any aspect of Andrew's work, would like to commission a piece, get hold of copies, or ask him to take a workshop with your choir, please do get in touch with him at andrewdjcusworth@gmail.com
He is also, occasionally, a twitter and Mastodon user; even more occasionally, he writes a blog post.