News
January 2026
With the new year started, I am happy to share that the culmination of my work during this last year has now been shared!
I am excited to share For the Composer: A Compositional Aid for the Classical Guitar, a composer-centered resource to support the compositional process.
Designed to provide a comprehensive understanding and encourage creative exploration, this compositional aid is structured in three chapters: the first discusses the guitar and its parts, geometric function, fingering notation, sonorities, colour, tone, and timbre; the second covers techniques; and the third provides a comprehensive list of visual and audio examples for each technique used in different contexts, as well as additional useful resources.
One of the first resources of its kind, this aid has been created through the help of composers and classical guitarists, ensuring that all information is tailored to support composers throughout the compositional process. One point I would like to address is that some musicians may question whether a compositional aid is truly necessary, whether it enhances the compositional process, or if it risks becoming a prescriptive method that stifles the individuality of composers. I want to emphasise that this is not the intention, and I discuss this concern in the introduction.
This compositional aid — in the aim of being an available, visible, and comprehensive resource — will remain free and accessible to everyone who needs it. All I ask is that those who engage with it provide feedback on what is useful, what could benefit from further explanation or simplification, and what can be improved and refined. I see this compositional aid as a community project — something that can be continually improved and refined by those who use it, for the benefit of future composers. My deepest thanks to all who have already contributed towards it.
I sincerely hope this resource proves helpful to those who engage with it!
October 2025
Later in the month, it was a privilege to perform as part of 'Pulse & Pineda', the culmination of the compositions written by Scottish composer Brandon Walker during his PhD. As part of the Walker Ensemble, we premiered two ensemble works: Por el Mar and the multi-movement Carga Negra. I also had the privilege to sharing two solo works: the revised version of Ravens of Achray and Lost in Venice, which Brandon had written for me in 2020.
I have had the gift of playing and performing Brandon's music for years now and I am grateful to be able to work alongside one of my favourite composers for the instrument. I had longed to be part of a concert that showcased Brandon's music and it is now a dream come to fruition. As always, I look forward to what Brandon composes in the future!
At the beginning of the month, it was wonderful to be able to take part in the inaugural concert of the Stockbridge Cohort series with Òrain Ùra and The Walker Ensemble, presented by Ben Shanks!
We had the privilege of sharing music from Scottish composers Brandon Walker, Edward McGuire, and Gordon Ferries. Some of which can be heard here.
It was inspiring and deeply meaningful to listen to the performances of everyone involved, and I am grateful to have performed alongside such sensitive and dedicated musicians.
Photo Credit: Maddy Payne
August 2025
We had the joy of giving our first concert as Òrain Ùra! We shared music by Robert Schumann, Natalia Lafourcade, and Scottish composers Gordon Ferries, Edward McGuire, and Kenneth Dempster. A highlight was the premiere of my arrangement of Castle Gordon by Edward McGuire. It was also the first time that I have had the pleasure of playing Two Hearts Beating by Kenneth Dempster, as well as my my Dichterliebe arrangements with a vocalist, which made the experience even more special!
The week after was followed by an amazing time giving two concerts as The Walker Ensemble at Marchmont St Giles Parish Church and St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, sharing works by Scottish classical guitarist and composer Brandon Walker! This is building towards a two-half concert showcasing works Brandon has written over the course of his PhD which shall include guitar solos, duos, trios, and quartets, with string quartet, flute, and piano. Join us on 25th October, 7:30pm, Stockbridge Parish Church! Tickets here.
Castle Gordon by Edward McGuire, excerpt. Arr. Kieran McCrossan. Perfomed by Òrain Ùra
Lost In Venice by Brandon Walker, excerpt. Performed by Kieran McCrossan
Sombras de Junio by Brandon Walker, excerpt. Performed by Brandon Walker and Kieran McCrossan
Por el Mar by Brandon Walker, excerpt. Performed by Brandon Walker, Kieran McCrossan, and Keith Murray
June 2025
I am very excited to share that my latest arrangements have now been published by Bergmann Edition! I am particularly proud of these arrangements with the music being by renowned Scottish composer and musician, Edward McGuire.
I deeply admire Eddie as both a person and a musician, and I am very grateful to call him a friend. His music has been a constant companion on my journey as a musician—through performing, listening, and conversations with others about it. These pieces capture so much of what I love about his work, especially the influence of Scottish folk music. I hope you enjoy them too!
These arrangements contribute to my goal of expanding the classical guitar repertoire with music by Scottish composers—something that is very important to me. Eddie has a vast and varied catalogue and has written extensively for the guitar, both as a solo and chamber instrument. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to play and listen to his music!
My deepest gratitude to Eddie for allowing me to make these arrangements and have them published; to Allan Bergmann and Bergmann Edition for publishing them; and to Milena Maneva-Valcheva for the engraving.
Dance Suite for Two - Arranged for Violin and Guitar
Five Miniature Pieces - Arranged for Guitar Duo
Fingal's Cave - Arranged for Piccolo and Guitar
Castle Gordon - Arranged for Voice and Guitar
The arrangements are available here!
March 2025
It was a pleasure to be able to return and perform at the Students of Simon Thacker Annual Guitar Concert this past Saturday! It was a wonderful evening filled with an incredible variety of music, much of which was composed by the performers themselves, and subsequently saw the premieres of these works!
For myself, it was a gift to be able to premiere 'Death by Water' by Gordon Ferries, alongside Soprano Chiara McGlynn, and the guitar trio 'Por El Mar' by Brandon Walker, alongside himself and Keith Murray. I'm very much looking forward to future performances and projects as part of these ensembles. April holds some exciting news for 'Death by Water', so do keep an eye out!
Sincerest thanks to my tutor, Simon Thacker, composers Gordon Ferries and Brandon Walker, the Edinburgh Society of Musicians for hosting the concert, to all who were able to attend the concert and those who supported from afar.
January 2025
We had a wonderful time recording the score of Foreign Body by Nancy Johnstone, and with this recording we are delighted to share the final product of our collaboration with Sára Ní Eithir - Foreign Body | A Contemporary Silent Film (with new music from Hoolan Ensemble).
This project wouldn't have been possible without the generous support from Sam Heughan, and for that, we are truly grateful. Special thanks also to Fife College Sound Production.
You can watch the full film on Youtube here.
Synopsis:
"A dreamlike meditation on the female body exploring themes of self-objectification, alienation and fetishisation. Conceived as a modern response to Germaine Dulac's 1928 surrealist masterpiece 'The Seashell and the Clergyman'
This work was commissioned by fast-emerging Scottish music collective, Hoolan Ensemble. Screened in October 2024 with a commissioned live score as part of a tour celebrating feminist cinema. Funded by Sam Heughan, as winners of the Write Strart Award 2024 at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland."
November 2024
On Saturday 30th November, we had an incredibly special evening as we shared and celebrated the music of Scottish composer, Eddie McGuire!
The Programme consisted of solo and chamber music for classical guitar, flute, piccolo, clarinet, and piano, and included two premieres, Consolation, Eddie's newest composition for solo guitar written for Stewart Kelly, and my arrangement of his 'Fingal's Cave' for Piccolo and Guitar! To our joy, Eddie will also performed in the concert as part of his Celtic Knotwork flute trio, and as a soloist for a small encore of his The Panda Dance.
Thank you to each performer for their unique contribution, thank you to the Edinburgh Society of Musicians for hosting the event, thank you to Stewart Kelly for his wonderful photography and recording the full concert, thank you to Leandra for making the most delicious cake, and most importantly, thank you to Eddie whose music we adore. All of us are truly grateful to know you, and to be able to play your music!
The full concert is available to watch on YouTube here
In the encore, you will see a very special musical instrument!
Performers included Adam Brown - Classical Guitar, Stewart Kelly - Classical Guitar, Eddie McGuire - Flute, Lynn Strang - Flute, Piccolo, and Piano, Amy McColl - Flute and Piccolo, Douglas McNeill - Clarinet, Joe Woodward - Piano, and Myself - Classical Guitar.
October 2024
I am so grateful to the Hoolan Ensemble for inviting me to join them on their project, Le Regard, which is a double screening of female-directed surrealist films The Seashell and the Clergyman (1928), directed by Germaine Dulac, and Foreign Body (2024), directed by Sára Ní Eithir. These are accompanied live by new experimental scores composed by Nancy Johnstone and Niall Docherty. Le Regard aims to spotlight the forgotten female pioneers of early cinema whilst using this history to create fresh, unusual works of contemporary music and film.
It was and is an honour to work with incredible musicians and composers such as these, and look forward to more performances of this project and to future projects! The tour was so much fun!
Concerts took place at:
- Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. 11th October.
- Hyde Park Picturehouse, Leeds. 13th October.
- Showroom Cinema, Sheffield. 14th October.
- Plaza Cinema, Liverpool. 15th October.
August/September 2024
Lynn and myself are so grateful to everyone who was able to join us for our summer concert series in person, and to those who supported from afar! It was very special getting to share this programme which included premieres of the works The Glass Nocturne by Brandon Walker and Dancing Memories by Edward McGuire which were written for us. Heartfelt thanks to both Brandon and Edward for writing this music for us, it is a gift to play and share your music!
Thank you to the organisers of each concert for their kindness, generosity and support. We are incredibly grateful to be able to work with such wonderful people.
We had so much fun travelling around the Highlands and Islands to give some of these concerts and were blessed with such beautiful weather and scenery!
Concerts took place at:
- Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy
- St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh
- St Mary's Church, Haddington
- An Cridhe, Isle of Coll
- The Old Church of Rannoch, Kinloch Rannoch
July 2024
I am delighted to say that I recently signed with Bergmann Edition and that this month saw the first publication of my arrangements! The pulication consists of Dichterliebe Op.48 - Movements 1-8 by Robert Schumann for Voice and Guitar, and Morceau Du Doncours by Gabriel Fauré for Flute and Guitar.
I am so grateful to Allan Bergmann Jensen for allowing me to publish with Bergmann Edition and for the wonderful music engraving provided by Milena Maneva-Valcheva!
The arrangements can be found here.
March 2024
I am so deeply grateful to have given my first solo concert series showcasing Scottish composers Brandon Walker, Edward McGuire, Kenneth Dempster and Stephen James Hamilton. This included premieres of two works written for him, Lost In Venice by Brandon Walker and Aelia Aeliana by Kenneth Dempster.
Concerts took place at Holy Trinity Church in St Andrews on March 3rd, Kirkcaldy Galleries on March 5th and the Edinburgh Society of Musicians on March 23rd.
