Arthur Keegan is a composer from Coventry. He attended his first classical music concert aged 16, describing it as a ‘turning point that has led me to find community, joy and work in classical music’. Now based in Burnley, Lancashire, Arthur’s music often draws on art for inspiration, and text from a wide range of sources from poetry to Twitter feeds. He enjoys a collaborative composition process, working directly with performers, and often uses compositional techniques drawn from his formative experiences writing electronic music. You can read more about Arthur and and his music on our website here.

Arthur's new work, inspired by Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, will be performed by Hebrides Ensemble as part of the RPS Award-winning festival The Cumnock Tryst. The concert will also feature Messiaen’s quartet, in a tribute to the 85th anniversary of its first performance. A masterpiece of 20th-century chamber music written in a prisoner-of-war camp during WWII, Quartet for the End of Time is also a seminal work for Hebrides Ensemble, having been part of their first ever concert performance. Keegan’s composition takes Messiaen’s ideas of eternity and renewal as a starting point, creating a contemporary reflection on faith, fragility, and the passing of time. The programme will have repeat performances in Edinburgh, Skye, and Glasgow.

Arthur is one of eight individuals we are supporting on the 2025 RPS Composers programme, giving each a commission and premiere with a noted ensemble, festival or venue, as well as a year of professional development which gives them the chance to meet industry experts and professional composers, furthering their confidence and skills to seek further commissions and premieres of their own. The RPS Composers programme is made possible by a range of trusts and foundations, and through the kind support of RPS Members.

You can find out more about RPS Membership and how you can help us support talented musicians like Arthur here.

Arthur is writing for Hebrides Ensemble. Click the button below to visit their website and book your tickets for the concert.