Liverpool Doctorate

Liverpool Doctorate

John McCabe has been awarded an honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of Liverpool, presented to him on 6th July 2006. He is already an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Thames Valley University, and has received honours from the Royal Northern College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, both in London, and the London College of Music.

The Dutton Epoch label has recently recorded the Ballet suite Arthur Pendragon (from the first ballet of McCabe's 2-evening cycle based on the Arthurian legends). Other works on the CD are his 1st Piano Concerto, with the composer as soloist, and his work for double string orchestra, Pilgrim (formerly a Luton Music Club commission for string sextet). The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performed all three works, conducted by Christopher Austin.

Dutton has just released a CD of Rawsthorne's piano music, performed by McCabe, who is shortly also to record John Joubert's three piano sonatas for Somm.

Among a number of commissions, including works for the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the King's Singers, and the pianist Malcolm Binns, McCabe has just completed a Horn Concerto for David Pyatt and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, to be premièred in February 2007.