Cecilia McDowall

Cecilia McDowall, born in 1951 in London, England, is a distinguished British composer known for her choral music. Her education in music began at the University of Edinburgh and continued at Trinity College of Music, London, where she completed a Master of Music in composition, studying under notable figures such as Joseph Horovitz, Robert Saxton, and Adam Gorb. McDowall's compositions, which have garnered her many awards including the 2014 British Composer Award for her piece 'Night Flight', are featured in the repertoire of both professional and amateur choirs. Her works often draw inspiration from extra-musical themes, as seen in her Da Vinci Requiem, commemorating the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death, and Night Flight, inspired by aviator Harriet Quimby.