Sally Beamish was born in London. Initially a viola player, she moved to Scotland in 1990 to develop her career as a composer. Her music embraces many influences: particularly jazz and Scottish traditional music. The concerto form is a continuing inspiration, and she has written for many renowned soloists. Her music is performed and broadcast internationally, and since 1998 she has been championed by the Swedish label BIS. Recent work includes A Shakespeare Masque by Ex Cathedra, with text by poet Carol Ann Duffy. Recent premieres include Hill Stanzas for pianist Ronald Brautigam, West Wind at the Wigmore Hall (James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook), and Merula Perpetua (BBC Chamber Proms – Lise Berthaud and David Saudubray). She is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow, and was recently made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. With composer Alasdair Nicolson, she co-directs the annual St. Magnus Composers’ Course in Orkney. She is currently completing her third piano concerto, for Jonathan Biss, to be premiered by the St Paul Chamber Orchestra in 2017. Her second was commissioned by the BBCSSO and will be premiered in Glasgow by Martin Roscoe in December. Her music is published by Edition Peters and by Norsk Musikforlag.