RPS Composer George Stevenson is based in Scotland, where his musical life began as a jazz pianist. As a performer, he always found himself drawn to the harmonies of composers like Debussy, Messiaen and Dutilleux. His journey of discovery through contemporary classical music continues to inspire his work as a composer, while improvisation remains at the core of his music. This spirit of adventure, evident in his compositions, is driven by his excitement at discovering new harmonic languages and musical structures.  You can read more about George and and his music on our website here.

George's new work 60 Beans – written for Ensemble 10:10 and commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society as part of the RPS Composers programme – forms part of a programme 'Reinventing Beethoven,' as a complement to the Orchestra’s Beethoven Symphony Festival. George's piece, takes inspiration from the great German composer's coffee habit, alongside the rest of the evening's programme also taking cues from Beethoven: Jay Capperauld quotes from Beethoven's String Quartet No.14 and remembers how Bruckner reportedly held his hero’s exhumed skull; the Op.18 No.6 Quartet forms a ‘floor plan’ for Caroline Shaw’s work; John Adams cheekily uses a motif from the Ninth Symphony; and Samantha Fernando’s Formations embraces rest and renewal.

Programme: 

Jay Capperauld – Bruckner’s Skull
Caroline Shaw – Blueprint
George Stevenson – 60 Beans(world premiere, RPS commission)
Samantha Fernando – Formations
John Adams – Son of Chamber Symphony

George is one of eight individuals supported by the 2026 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.

George's RPS commission and his place on the RPS Composers programme is kindly supported by Thea Musgrave and Peter Mark, through the RPS Thea Musgrave Fund, and we're grateful to RPS Members and a range of trusts and foundations whose generous support makes the RPS Composers programme possible.

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

George is writing for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's Ensemble 10:10. Click the button below to discover more on their website and book your tickets for the performance.