Biography

Laurence Roman has composed extensively for both the concert hall and stage.

His oratorio The Cathedral was premiered in 2013 as part of the Derry City of Culture celebrations at St Columbs Cathedral, Derry with the Ulster Orchestra and combined choirs of the University of Ulster and Aberdeen University. Laurence's recent works include: Five Cantos from the Book of the Dead, premiered in 2011 by Richard Sherman and Panayis Lyras at Michigan State University, Shock-headed Peter and Cautionary Verses, both premiered in 2009 at the St Andrew's Music Festival and commissioned by the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust. Laurence's Ulysses, a Musical Odyssey - awarded the 1995 Vivian Ellis Prize for Best New Musical - was performed in Northern Ireland and on the Southbank as part of the Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation initiative.

His Concertino for Viola and Orchestra was performed by the Southbank Sinfonia in 2008 and Three Summer Pastorals, Concert Variations and Carpathian Dances were performed in 2008 at the Hungarian Cultural Centre, Covent Garden. Laurence's Missa Brevis was performed in 2007 at St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast. His opera Isabella and the Pot of Basil was featured at the 2006 Buxton Opera Festival. His musical Mates was staged at the Edinburgh Fringe and subsequently transferred to the Landor Theatre, London. Other works have included The Three Orphans and Three Hungarian Peasant Songs, Psychocorruptor Infernalis, commissioned by the University of York Wind Orchestra and Two Stops Short of Barking, commissioned by the SPNM. His Three Postcards from Spain and Violin Sonata were premiered by the Paganini Prize-winning violinist Ara Malikian at the Colmar Festival and Carnegie Hall.

Laurence has orchestrated several recordings including: The Woman in White Suite, released on EMI Records with the London Symphony Orchestra, Choral Lloyd Webber with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and The Phantom Fantasia with the London Symphony Orchestra, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Laurence is currently Lecturer in Composition at the University of Ulster.