A Wee Blether With...

Covid-19 led Perth charity CEO to pursue a career as a composer

Helen MacKinnon, who has been inspired by lockdown to become a full-time composer

A Wee Blether With…

How was your experience of lockdown?

Lockdown was actually an interesting catalyst for me to take on composing full-time. The busy pace of life slowed and I turned that into a productive experience and settled into a new composing rhythm. It gave me a better taste of how creatively and practically I might approach a fuller focus on composing one day in the future.

Would this be a leap of faith in some ways?

In a way, yes. When I got my music degree at Glasgow University, it didn’t occur to me to try and be a composer. I’m now at a place in life where I can carry some risk and put an increasing focus on composing. I keep putting one foot in front of the other and seeing where it takes me.

Did music help you through lockdown?

Definitely – it’s been a contemplative and spiritual time. As an asthmatic, I started feeling anxious. I then lost my grandmother in April – we couldn’t visit her for the last few weeks of life or attend a funeral. I also have a sister in New York who was giving birth in May. It was a tough time to be separated from loved ones. I channelled my grief and emotions into composing and the music kept flowing.

Is the Royal Scottish National Orchestra recording your new composition?

Yes! Last year PARMA Recordings announced the RSNO as their recording partner for 2020. I submitted a score and the opportunity to record a new work The Rinns of Islay with the orchestra came to fruition. We’ll be doing it in the autumn, Covid-19 permitting. Very exciting!

What’s it like hearing your own music played for the first time?

It’s full of different emotions. Mostly exciting, occasionally nerve-wracking and sometimes surprising when musical ideas sound different when realised. Composing is incredibly personal; you’re inviting performers and audiences to share in the creations of your heart and mind. When it comes together, it’s very rewarding.

How do you balance composing with being administrator for the Perth Festival of the Arts?

The roles complement each other very well. I bring an artistic background to the festival and as a composer, I’m learning more about the music industry. The festival has its busy peaks and I weave composing around that. It works well and I enjoy every minute.

Which Scottish composer has inspired you?

These days, I closely follow the work of James Macmillan. His faith is obviously a great influence and focus for his work, and I share that same inspiration behind much of my own music. I attended the premiere of his fifth symphony Le grand Inconnu at last year’s Edinburgh International Festival – phenomenal.

Covid-19 has had an extremely adverse effect on the arts. Do you think it can bounce back?

I believe we can, but how much spring will be in our bounce, it’s hard to tell. We’ve seen how quickly many arts organisations have embraced digital alternatives and we’re adapting all the time. Financial bolstering of the sector will be essential and much will depend on how much government funding filters through at grassroots level.