Oliver Knussen

Stuart Oliver Knussen CBE was a prominent British composer and conductor. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, to Stuart Knussen, principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra, he grew up immersed in music. Encouraged by Benjamin Britten, Knussen studied composition with John Lambert and Gunther Schuller, quickly establishing himself as a prodigious talent. By age 15, he was conducting his own compositions internationally. His acclaimed works include children's operas and the Horn Concerto for Barry Tuckwell, reflecting his mastery over a colourful early 20th-century sound world. Knussen served as music director and held notable positions at Tanglewood, the Aldeburgh Festival, and the London Sinfonietta, where he later became conductor laureate.