Anjelica Cleaver
Anjelica is one of seven composers selected for a place on the 2024 RPS Composers programme. This will culminate in her writing a new piece, commissioned by the RPS, for Wigmore Hall.
On this page, Anjelica introduces herself in her own words, and shares links to her music, her website, and her social media platforms. We warmly invite programmers and commissioners to take a closer look at Anjelica's work, and please be in touch with us if you would like to connect with her.
About Anjelica
'Growing up I never thought it was possible for someone like me to be a real composer and at school was strongly discouraged from studying music beyond GCSE, but music was my greatest passion and after moving to London for work I started pursuing music as much as possible outside my office job. I played at punk nights, performed at protests, got involved in the jazz scene, formed a disco band, made lo-fi beats, started an experimental jam night and countless other projects trying to find a space that could hold the breadth of music I was trying to create. Despite my very DIY approach I was nominated for an Ivor’s Composer Award for Large Jazz Ensemble and received the Steve Reid Award.
In 2022 I fulfilled my dream of quitting my day job to become a full-time musician. Since, I have had a composition residency at Pretahub in Brazil though the British Council, was a Resident Musician at St George’s Hospital where I was commissioned to write a Healing Suite for the hospital community, have had my work for piano and projector premiered at Turner Sims, was commissioned to write protest music by Global Justice Now and Debt Justice and joined the Sound and Music New Voices Scheme, as well as writing and releasing music with a number of ensembles I run.'
Highlights
- In 2022, Anjelica was selected for Sound and Music’s New Voices Scheme.
- Anjelica has worked as a Resident Musician at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, and was been commissioned to write ‘The Healing Suite’ for the hospital community.
- She held a Composition Residency at Pretahub in Brazil through the British Council and performed at Fiera Preta festival.
- In 2020, Anjelica was nominated for an Ivors Composer Award for Large Jazz Ensemble, for her piece, 'What Is Understanding'.
- Anjelica also received the 2020 Steve Reid InNOVAtion Award for outstanding emerging artists, in partnership with PRS Foundation.
Find out more
The 2024 RPS Composers programme is made possible with support from RPS Members, Delius Trust, The Fidelio Charitable Trust, PRS Foundation's The Open Fund, the Radcliffe Trust, the Susan Bradshaw Composers' Fund, the Vaughan Williams Foundation and several anonymous donors.