David Gorton

David Gorton is a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music and a University of London Professor since 2022. As Associate Head of Research at the Academy since 2008, he specializes in composition, microtonality, and historical music reinterpretation. His work bridges early music (16th–17th centuries) with contemporary practices, emphasizing collaboration between composers and performers.

He holds degrees from Durham University, King’s College London, and the Royal Academy of Music, studying under Harrison Birtwistle and Simon Bainbridge. His research explores musical subjectivity and performance practices, contributing to journals like Contemporary Music Review and books published by Oxford and Leuven University Presses.

Gorton’s compositions, characterized by microtonal systems and virtuosic performance, include works for orchestras like the BBC Symphony and chamber groups. Albums like Orfordness and Farnabye’s Maske showcase his exploration of East Anglian landscapes and late Renaissance music. He is a member of the Orpheus Institute’s research cluster, co-authoring Voices, Bodies, Practices: Performing Musical Subjectivities.

He supervises PhDs in composition and performance practice, focusing on topics like instrumental choreography and engagements with musical history. His awards include the Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize. Collaborations with artists like Claire Shovelton and Peter Sheppard Skærved highlight his interdisciplinary approach.