Will Handysides' work is highly detailed and extremely sensitive to nuances of colour which is explored through the subtle tuning of harmonic structures and the careful combination of instrumental colour. Sparing in its use of material and compositional devices, the music is pared down to only its essential constituents, making the work clear, focussed and striking. Will is currently studying with Paul Newland and Nye Parry at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London. He has previously studied with Gwyn Pritchard and Errollyn Wallen MBE, at Trinity Laban; with Morten Eide Pedersen at Griegakademiet in Bergen, Norway; and with Detlev Glanert on the Dartington International Summer School Advanced Composition Course 2012 (thanks to a scholarship from Michael Tippett Foundation). In 2014 Will was awarded the TCM Trust Silver Medal in Composition for the student who has made the most outstanding contribution to the work of their department and to performance activities during the course of their studies. Upcoming performances include a piece for brass dectet, being performed at St. Alfege Church in Greenwich and St. Johns Smith Square, London on 26th and 28th February 2015 respectively. A new work for natural trumpet and chamber orchestra, comissioned by Oliver Till for the Max Bronstein and The Asyla Ensemble, is to be performed on 10th April 2015, venue TBC. Will's music has been performed in the UK and Norway. In Norway his music has been performed at Grieghallen, Gunnar Sævigs Sal, Bergen Domkirke and Trondheim Kunsthall. In the UK, Will's music has been heard at St Johns Smith Square, the National Maritime Museum, Riverside Studios, Dartington Hall, Blackheath Concert Halls and Old Royal Naval College Chapel, amongst other venues. His work has been performed by, amongst others; Composers Ensemble, Bit20 Ensemble, Onyx Brass, Trondheim Sinfonietta, Sjøforsvarets Musikkorps (SFMK), Vokalensemblet Skrik. Will gave a talk in a pre-festival event at the Borealis Contemporary Music Festival 2014 and his piece 'Chrysopoeia' was premièred at the Springboard Borealis event.
