G. Schirmer Australia signs composer Luke Styles to publishing deal

Sydney-based publisher G. Schirmer Australia signed Australian/British composer Luke Styles to a worldwide music publishing agreement.

He joins a roster of top classical composers including Michael Nyman, Ludovico Einaudi, Philip Glass and Tan Dun.

The prolific Styles’ most recent successes include his Aldeburgh Festival 2017 début with his large work All Howl At Once; and his sixth opera Ned Kelly which premiered in February 2019 at the Perth Festival.

His song cycle, On Bunyah, written for tenor, piano and string quartet to the poems of the late Les Murray, premiered in London and was followed by its May Australian premiere at the Coriole Music Festival, Adelaide.

In 2015 Styles became the first composer-in-residence since Handel at London’s Foundling Museum.

During this time, he composed two chamber operas and two youth operas performed by the London Philharmonic.

He’s also written silent film scores and for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“I feel a lot of my Australian identity in what I write. I would say it’s the bold, bright colours of Australia, the youthfulness, the confidence – all of that is poured into the music,” Styles says.

G. Schirmer Australia is part of the global The Music Sales Group.

Managing director Jane English says, “Luke’s international musical career has been astounding. He has a golden touch.

“Once I listened to his (folk inspired) opera, Ned Kelly, and read the glowing reviews, we agreed it was time for Luke to come on board our G. Schirmer Australia roster.

“He has so many more incredible projects in the pipeline.

“Luke is professional, ambitious, imaginative – a wonderfully innovative composer.”