John Irvine initially trained at Dartington College of Arts, for two years in the mid 80s, on the Preparatory Course in Music; made possible with a scholarship from Devon County Council. From there, he moved to Glasgow to study classical guitar with Philip Thorne at the RSAMD, winning the Guitar Challenge Prize in 1989. The following year he was awarded a scholarship from the Leche Trust which enabled him to complete a further year in Glasgow receiving his Post-Graduate Certificate in Performance in 1990. In 1992 John began his PhD in Music Composition at the University of Edinburgh, studying with Nigel Osborne. This was completed in 1999. John has also composed music for theatre, working on over 40 shows throughout the UK, and 20 shows at the Traverse Theatre [Edinburgh] and appeared on radio in discussions concerning the role of music in theatre today. He has also written music for film and TV. In the past he has been a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art [London] and De Montfort University [Leicester], worked as an external examiner for Edexcel, and lectured in ‘Music, Creativity & Communication’ at Edinburgh Napier University. He also taught composition at St Mary’s Music School [Edinburgh] from 1999 to 2007, and composition and academic music at The City of Edinburgh Music School from 2000 to 2011. Today, he works as a freelance composer and writer. His writing has been published, or is forthcoming in: Blinking Cursor, Essence, A Handful Of Stones, Open Mouse, Poetry Scotland, South and Streetcake Magazine. He has just completed his first YA novel ‘Misanthrope’. from http://www.johnirvinemusic.com
