Born in Derby and educated at Derby School, Fabian Watkinson studied under Alexander Goehr at Leeds University where he obtained a First in Music. After attending Peter Maxwell Davies's class at Dartington Summer School he spent a postgraduate year at Southampton University with Jonathan Harvey. He then spent a year in Messiaen's class at the Paris Conservatoire, funded by a French Government Scholarship.
Fabian has been Music Director of Orfeo Music Theatre Group, Camden Opera Workshop and Opera Favorita, who gave the first performances of his opera Mosaic (libretto by Arnold Sundgaard, who worked with Kurt Weill on Down in the Valley). This was given a second production by the students of Trinity College of Music. His works have been performed at the Edinburgh and Seattle Spring festivals, and his Prelude and Fugue for piano won joint First Prize at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.
Puer Nobis (Variations for Orchestra) was commissioned by the Sherwood Sinfonia with funds provided by East Midlands Arts, and The Year, for soloists, chorus and orchestra, was commissioned by North Bridge House School in Camden, London.
Other works include a Sonata and Sonatina for piano, four song cycles, and pieces for flute, clarinet, saxophone and cello. Amongst his more recent works are a Chaconne for piano, Softly the night for unaccompanied choir, and Le Tombeau de Messiaen for string trio, commissioned to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Messiaen's birth. He is currently working on a symphony.
2022