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Xander Hough is a freelance musician and theatre professional. He is a self taught composer, experienced orchestrator and trained instrumentalist.
Works of Musical Theatre & Drama
Xander co-wrote the musical Dracula with writers Margaret Pritchard and Grace Burson. A demo CD recording of the show features singers Katie Roehl and Jessica Lynne Cromhecke in the roles of Mina Murray-Harker and Lucy Westenra. He is working on a second, the Duchess of Malfi which will be premiered in 2009 by Curtainraiser Theatre Company in Malta.
Songs he wrote were featured in the 2007 national tour of the London Shakespeare Workout's Black Atlas which was directed by Bruce Wall. The play was described as "gripping", "moving", "powerful" and "intense" moving by BBC reviewer Helen Otter and "a joyous and affirming experience" by Artsweb Wales. Black Atlas will receive it's American premier as part of a double bill with Lifting the Mask off-Broadway in 2008.
Music by Xander was written for Bartholomew Road Production's Alexander which will be premiered at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival at The Studio at St Augustine's. The verse play about the personal life of Alexander The Great will be feature actors Constance Dalrymple, Ivan Todorov, Ben Reves, Scott McFarlane and Alek Hayes in the title role.
In April 2007, Xander worked as a copyist for the development of the musical Raindogs written by Andrew McBean (Theatreworks, Sunset Boulevard, West Side Story, NINE) which is based on Lanford Wilsoni's play Balm In Gilead. The show was premiered in London's West End afer being developed at the Actor's Centre in May 2007. The showcase featured musical theatre performers Julie Atherton (Avenue Q, Fame, Mamma Mia) and Oliver Tompsett (WICKED, Our House, Mamma Mia). The project was musically directed by Tom Deering (Aspect of Love) and Toby Higgins (Mamma Mia international tour, Little Shop of Horrors West End run). Xander's work on the project was described as "so fast" and "amazing" by the clients.
Film Works
Xander's first major film score, Leon Herbert's (Emotional Blackgammon, 9 Dead Gay Guys, Dark Floors) Shoot & Score will be featured at the Pan African Film Festival in 2008. It was premiered in central London in May 2007 and was written by Darren Raymond (Shakespeare in Love, William Poel Festival). Shoot & Score features noted theatre and television actress Cathy Tyson (RSC, Grange Hill, Liverpool Nativity, Emmerdale).
Instrumental Works, Orchestration & Notation
He has also written several short pieces for woodwind instruments, songs and choral works and pieces for solo piano, some of which have won first place in regional competitions. He is currently working on Nexus - a piece for tuned percussion, drum kit and piano as well as his debut piano concerto, Phoenix.
In June 2007, Xander's string orchestra piece Stop All The Clocks (based on WH Auden's poem of the same title) was shortlisted in the Fauxharmonic Orchestra Adagio Competition out of over 160 entries worldwide. It was judged as being an"impressive work that deserve to be recognized" which "stood out in particular for outstanding quality and emotional power" by a panel featuring composer Mason Bates, violinist Laura Frautschi, and Steven Scott Smalley, master film music orchestrator and teacher. Xander has been mentored by one of the finalist's of the competition, celebrated composer Andrew Lowe Watson.
Xander Hough assisted with the set up of new independent London publishing company STAUNCH Music Publishing in August 2007. Set up by Joel Garthwaite, STAUNCH specialises in modern music by composers such as Eric Schwartz, Ashley-John Long and Andrew Keeling. Their publications include commissions by the critically aclaimed Lunar Saxophone Quartet. Xander performed copyist and score setting for many of STAUNCH's debut publications as well as setting the publisher's House Style.
Xander's flute work, the Vento Flute Sonata was critically acclaimed by leading flautists Andy Findon (Harry Potter, Michael Nyman Orchestra, Lord of the Rings, WICKED, The Woman In White), Gareth McLearnon (Southbank Sinfonia, Ulster Orchestra, The London Pops Orchestra) and Gareth Hanson (Southbank Sinfonia, Guildford Philharmonic, Boston Symphony).
He has provided orchestrations and arrangements for a variety of organisations over the last three years including Oxford Gospel Choir, Pewsey Vale, Woodhouse Players, Royal Holloway Music Theatre as well as for all his own work.
Instrumentalist
Xander is a trained flautist specialising in the more unusual members of the flute family including the piccolo, alto and bass flute, playing in shows and several ensembles. He has worked on such productions as Jesus Christ Superstar (RHMT), Witches of Eastwick (OBSU Fortune Players), Annie (Pewsey Vale), Nunsense (Binfield Bards) and Stepping Out (Binfield Bards). He is also a first call flautist for Stage Fright Theatre Company performing at their debut cabaret, From West End to Broadway. Xander is one of the principle flautists for Beenham Band and has worked with soloists such as Caroline Woodhouse and conductor Robert Roscoe. He also performs with Reading Flutes which is run by flautist Clare Mellor (Trio Inspiroso). Xander is also trying to learn the saxophone but until he stops making honky noises, will keep this to the confines of his flat in central Reading.
Other Work & Experience In The Field
At Royal Holloway, University of London, Xander conducted research into performance anxiety in West End and professional orchestral musicians in London under supervision of top music psychology Liz Valentine. His work involved interviewing and psychometrically testing musicians from a variety of shows and ensembles.
Xander works at the Barbican Centre and Guidhall School of Music and Drama as an HR advisor providing support to managers and employees for their HR needs. Prior to this, he worked at the Broadway Theatre in East London as an Administration Manager. Xander worked as an executive producer providing administrative support for all in house productions including co-productions with Wishbone Publishing in December 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Xander is Marketing Officer for Beenham Band and has managed campaigns for their 2006 and 2007 seasons.
He is currently taking commissions and projects for 2008 and can be contacted at mail@xanderhough.co.uk
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