The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Kit’s Waterloo sunrise sees novice composer hit all the right notes
From the rural de l ights of Glenduckie in Fife to the bright lights of London, 19-year-old Kit Mccarthy has had a strange first year away from home.
In his first year of a composition course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Kit has missed the normal buzz of student life in London.
Instead of heading out to the wealth of concerts, galleries and museums he could have enjoyed, he described his first year as “seeing only my computer screen, the courtyard outside my bedroom and not much else”.
This is not the young man to talk to about the latest Netflix series though. Kit has had his head deep in sheet mu s i c after winning a commission for a composition related to what might be the longest public art project in the world.
The Illuminated River project spans 15 bridges across the Thames in central London, with lighting designed by architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, with Ne w Yo r k artist Leo Villareal.
When the project was looking for new music inspired by each of the bridges it contacted the Guildhall, which the offered students the chance to make their pitch.
Kit has been successful in composing the piece for Waterloo Bridge, which was recorded on March 30 by the Guildhall Orchestra.
Although Kit has been playing music from an early age, he considered going into law.
Some may recall him as being at the forefront of the campaign to ban mosquito devices, the high-pitched sound that could only be heard by people under the age of 25.
He decided composition was a better fit for him so the former Bell Baxter and
St Leonards pupil went straight from school to London last September to begin the course.
Kit said: “I started French horn when I was about seven, taught by a wonderful woman called Margaret Douglass, primarily an astrophysicist, who taught that at St Andrews University.
“Her real passion has always been teaching kids French horn and particularly jazz French horn.”
He “pretty much” taught himself to compose, along with musician friends and bits he picked up at school and though he played in the National Yo u t h Orchestra of Scotland, he does not think he was ever good enough to do so professionally.
Kit said: goodness I composition.
“I’m a pretty mediocre piano player and I do want to get better at that. That will be helpful in composition.”
His mother is a doctor and his father has lived a creative life, working as a lecturer in creative writing and art history and as an author.
Kit learned his pitch for Wa t e r l o o Bridge was successful during his
“Thank prefer
Christmas break and had to hurriedly finish it.
He said: “I am happy with it and hearing the Guildhall musicians recording it was pretty thrilling.
“There are so many paths you can follow in composition – concer t music, film and T V, education , music for theatre, dance and opera.
“It’s always been hard to earn a living as a musician or a composer and I think it’s even harder now.
“That’s why it’s been so great to have this opportunity so early in my musical career.”