Fiona T Frank-Inspired by Nature

I honestly can’t remember who told me about Fiona T Frank, but perhaps her name came up on one of my visits to the UK. I’ve been fortunate to have some insight into the music composition scene in the UK through my husband’s training and singing career there. I’m so glad her music crossed my path and I am eager to share it with you for many reasons.

Fiona was born in London and has been active as a musician her whole life-choral singer, vocal soloist, violinist, violin teaching and piano. Yet she has only been composing since 2010 when she started by setting some of her own poems to music. She has a degree in fine art painting in fact and has taught painting and drawing!

Fiona says “Nature is my teacher and inspiration” and many of her compositions weave in references to Nature-her impressive “Wheel of Life” mandala combines her beautiful musical composition with an equally stunning outdoor visual installation. Retreating to Nature to find meaning is a common theme in art-from Shakespeare (As You Like It) to modern re-tellings of ancient stories (Penelope from The Odyssey).

Frank’s music is tonal, accessible and in the modern “classical” idiom. She was a player in the New Bristol Sinfonia under the direction of a highly accomplished conductor, James Lowe. Her compositions strike me as polished but with an inherent modern sensibility to musicality that sets the listener at ease.

I hope you will enjoy two more of her short instrumental works-Rainy Autumn Day and Self Portrait. I found it more challenging to find recordings of her vocal works; perhaps it would be fun to collaborate with her singer to composer.

Fiona T Frank gives a shining example of how artists, even very accomplished and gifted ones, can be drawn to multiple mediums of expression.

If you would like to learn more about her music and life, Frank’s website is filled with information about everything from the awards she has received for her musical compositions to her organic vegan lifestyle choices.

If you’ve enjoyed learning about this living composer please consider helping me in my mission to illuminate the voices of women composers and compose my own original musical works with a membership to Voices of Women: From Unknown to Renowned’s Patreon. A monthly contribution of any size makes a big impact on my ability to learn and practice music, research and uncover new works, spend time at the piano or with my voice and inner ear creating music.