Photo: David San Millán, 2012.

Paul Hepden is a composer, guitarist and singer living and working in London, UK.

Originally a carpenter by trade, Paul approaches composition in the same way he practiced his former occupation: using techniques, tools, good design and hard work to construct the building blocks of rhythm and pitch into music that is sometimes finely polished, sometimes rough hewn, but always robust and fit for purpose.

Paul’s recent compositions include "I’d Rather Walk" for clarinet, violoncello & piano, premièred at the PluMu #1 concert held at St. Michael’s Church, Camden, in August 2012; String Quintet # 1, premièred in October 2012 at St Bartholomew the Great Church, City of London, as part of the String Quartet Plus festival, and was performed by Bergersen Quartet, with Daniel Bryant on double bass.

In October 2012, Paul sang bass in the UK première of Taneyev’s "St John of Damascus", in London.

Awards include a scholarship from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Paul also works as a champion and promoter of new music, establishing and co-ordinating concerts and events such as the String Quartet Plus festival (SQ+), which took place for the first time between 24th of October - 7th of November, 2012. SQ+ commissioned a diverse group of composers and songwriters from the fields of indie-rock, classical, opera and dance music to create new works which spliced their own area of musical interest with the medium of the string quartet, leading to fourteen new works all of which received their première over the festival.

Some SQ+ audience feedback:

‘Evocative compositions, wonderful performances. An inspiring evening.’

‘It opened my mind to what “music” is – fantastic experience.’

‘A really GREAT experience – so pleased to have stumbled across this.’

SQ+ gratefully acknowledges the financial support received from PRS for Music Foundation when setting up the festival. www.stringquartetplus.com

SQ+ cello image: © Vincent Chanter, 2012. www.vchanter.com

Along with like-minded composers & performers Dominic de Grande and Anna Braithwaite, in August 2012, Paul staged PluMu #1, two concerts showcasing the work of a collective of artists and musicians in an exceptional mix of comic turns, poignant readings, folk-pop, hip-opera, choral and contemporary-classical music. The shows took place at St. Michael’s Church, Camden, and St. Bartholomew the Great church, City of London. www.soundcloud.com/plural-muses

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List of Works:

To listen to a selection of these compositions, please visit: www.soundcloud.com/paul-hepden

I’d Rather Walk (2012)

for B flat clarinet, piano and violoncello.

First performed by Nicola Burnett Smith (B flat clarinet), Joachim Fainberg (piano) and Jay Jenkinson (violoncello),

at St. Michael's church, Camden, London, during the PluMu #1 concert on 1^st of August, 2012.

String Quintet # 1 (2012)

for two violins, viola, violoncello and double bass.

First performed by Bergersen String Quartet and Daniel Bryant (double bass),

at St. Bartholomew the Great church, City of London, during the String Quartet Plus festival on 24^th October, 2012.

Kickin’ Back – a study for solo guitar (2010)

for solo guitar.

Works in progress:

A song for tenor voice, flute, piano & tuba

Duet for B flat clarinet & violoncello # 1

Solo for B flat clarinet # 1

Short sketch for a String Quartet

for two violins, viola and violoncello.

With Bernadine Artuso:

Soundtrack to the Terry Brain animation, The Pudding (2001)

Soundtrack to a short film, Five Girls (2001)

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Contact:

telephone: 07971 655752

email: paul@paulhepden.com

www.facebook.com/paul.hepden

twitter: @paulhepden

This website is currently under construction.