Lightship studio, London (photo: Matt Paisley)
Gary is a composer, producer and performer who composes music for concerts, theatre, film and TV, and acts and performs in theatre plays, as well as writing, recording and performing in collaborative projects Capac (electronic/experimental) and Shy Nature (alternative rock). In recent years one of his main areas of focus is composition in devised theatre and site-specific theatrical installations, exploring the role of the composer in the devising process and how the nature of the performance space affects the processes of composition and arrangement.
His theatre and performing arts work includes composition, production and live performances at Athens & Epidaurus Festival (including at the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus, at Pireos 260, and a site-specific piece at Keratsini Fish Market), Athens Concert Hall, National Theatre of Greece, Onassis Foundation ‘Stegi’, Greek National Opera, Eleusis European Capital of Culture 2023 (GRC), Timisoara European Capital of Culture 2023 (ROU), National Theatre of Korea, National Theatre of Sarajevo (BOS), Maxim Gorki Theatre (Berlin, GER), Istanbul International Theatre Festival (TUR) Teatros del Canal (Madrid, ESP), Radikal Jung festival (Munich, GER) and live sound pieces at London’s V&A, Liverpool Biennial and Tate Liverpool.
His work for TV includes series such as Dixi (BBC), CSI, Grey’s Anatomy and Catfish (MTV), and international ad campaigns for Sudafed and Johnnie Walker. His recent work for film includes Melancholic Breasts (composition and production), Frequency Station (composition and production, Athens Video Dance Festival 2022), D+A (composition, recording and performance, sound mixing), The People’s Cloud (assistant composer), Edge (audiovisual composition and production) and El Empleo (composition and production for Athens Concert Hall international animation composition competition). Gary’s extensive international touring with Shy Nature and Capac includes major UK festivals (BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Field Day, The Great Escape) and corporate performances in Asia for Burberry and Chanel.
Gary has a master’s in Composition for Film, Theatre and Performing Arts from Ionian University (2017, distinction) and a BA (Hons) in Popular Music from the University of Liverpool (2006). He has studied composition with Kornilios Selamsis since 2017 at the National Theatre of Greece. He holds a PGCE (QTS) from Liverpool Hope (2008) and was a teacher of music in English state schools for a decade. He has gone on to teach ensemble theatre workshops, and was a member of the judging panel of the 3rd International Animation Composition Competition in 2019 at Athens Concert Hall, in association with Anima Syros festival.
Education
National Theatre of Greece — Music Composition in Theatre with Kornilios Selamsis, 2017-20
Ionian University — MA (Distinction) Composition for Film, Theatre and Performing Arts, 2016–17
Liverpool Hope University — PGCE (QTS) General Primary with Spanish Specialism, 2008
University of Liverpool — BA (Hons) 2:1 Popular Music, 2006
Selected Commissioned Works
2023-24 King Lear by William Shakespeare - dir. Yannis Houvardas, National Theatre of Greece, Main Stage, Athens (composition and on-stage musician)
2024 The Life and Death of Jessica Brown - dir. Sofia Priovolou/Jeo Pakitsas, National Theatre of Greece, Experimental Stage for Emerging Artists, Athens (composition, recording, production, music performance coaching)
2023 The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill - dir. Akilas Karazisis, theatre play, Proskinio Theatre, Athens (composition, musician on stage and acting)
2021-22 The Republic of Baklava - dir. Anestis Azas, devised theatre piece, Athens & Epidaurus Festival 2021 / Amphi-Theatro, Athens, 2022 / International Theatre Festival MESS, Sarajevo (BOS), October 2022 / Thessaloniki Dimitria Festival (GR), October 2022 / Skopje (MKD), November 2022 / Zurich (SWI), November 2022 (acting, musician on stage: guitar, voice, piano)
2021-22 We Are in the Army Now - dir. Elias Adam, Onassis Cultural Foundation, Athens, (online FUTURE NOW Festival, 2021 then live in May 2022 / Teatros del Canal, Madrid, January 2022 / Ringlokschuppen, Mülheim (GER), April 2022 / Münchner Volkstheater, Radikal Jung festival, Munich (GER), June 2022 (composition, musician on stage, acting)
2022 Melancholic Breasts - film, dir. C. Pilavios (composition, recording and production)
2022 Frequency Station - short film, dir. Vassilis Mavrianos, Athens Video Dance Festival 2022
2022 La Thébaïde - dir. Dimitris Babilis, theatre play, Municipal Theatre of Piraeus (composition, recording and production)
2021-22 The Right Pocket of the Cassock - dir. Irene Fanarioti, theatre play, Municipal and Regional Theatre of Agrinio (composition, recording and production)
2021 Separating Circles - site-specific concert piece for 5x tape loops and 1x venue, Kamiros, Athens (composition and performance)
2021 The Price of Rebellion on the Black Market - dir. Dimitris Babilis, theatre play, Athens (composition/sound installation, live performance: guitar, voice, piano, acting)
2021 Kivotos Channel - dir. Elias Adam, Onassis Cultural Foundation, Athens (composition, recording and production, acting, co-writer) [video performance]
2020 Erotic Postcards from Greece - dir. Anestis Azas, devised theatre piece, Onassis Cultural Foundation, Athens (musician on stage, performer)
2020 We Are in the Army Now - dir. Elias Adam, theatre performance, Onassis Cultural Foundation, Athens (composer, musician on stage, performer)
2020 Love & Information - dir. P. Gavrelas/C. for Circus, National Theatre, Athens (composition, arrangement, musical direction, live performance- guitar, piano, voice, modular synth) <POSTPONED: COVID-19>
2020 Brawny One - concert piece for electric guitar, voice and feedback, National Theatre of Greece - digital concert due to COVID-19 (composition and performance)
2020 What Remains - site-specific devised theatre, ‘Chloroquine Festival’, Romantso, Athens (composition, production, vocal performance)
2019-20 Athens: CAPITAL - devised documentary theatre, National Theatre ‘Experimental Stage’/ ‘Horos Theatre’, Athens, (composition, live performance- guitar, voice, piano, acting role)
2019-20 Heliotopia - devised dance theatre, Poreia Theatre, Athens (electronic composition)
2019 What Is the Word - concert piece for piano and voice, National Theatre of Greece (composition and vocal performance)
2019 Phèdre - dir. E. Theodorou, Little Epidaurus Theatre, Crete and Athens tour of outdoor theatres (assistant composer, live operator of 10-channel installation composition)
2019 Sleeping Beauty - children’s theatre play, Greece (composition, voiceover, recording and production)
2019 Apo…Erota - music theatre concert performance (residency), Sfiga, Athens (composition, arrangement, live performance- guitar, voice)
2018 Waterline: An Ode to Decay - site-specific devised theatrical piece for Athens & Epidaurus Festival, Dεcadēre Theatre Company (composition, arrangement, choir direction, musical direction, live performance- guitar, voice, percussion, shruti box)
2018 Odys-Sea’s Memory: a sole journey back to the body - theatrical play, National Theatre of Korea, Yesan and Gwangju branches (composition, live performance [guitar, voice, percussion, electronics])
2018 D+A - film, dir. C Pilavios (composition, performing, recording, production, sound mix)
2017–18 Destiny is Called Klotildi - theatrical play, BOB Theatre Festival/Athens & Epidaurus Festival/Greek tour: Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Patras, Chania, Ioannina, Volos, Serres (composition, live performance- guitar, voice, acting role)
2018 Thumbelina and Her Animal Friends - children’s theatre play, Greece (composition, recording and production, voiceover, video editing)
2018 Bugonia - concert piece for 6 instruments and 6 voices, National Theatre of Greece (composition)
2016–17 King Matt the First - children’s theatre play, Alfa Idea, Athens (composition, recording, production, musical direction)
2018 Distortion - audiovisual experiential installation, Galería de Art Contemporáneo Paul Bardwell, Medellín and Parque Biblioteca Fernando Botero, San Cristóbal, Colombia (musical composition, recording, production)
2017 The People’s Cloud - experimental documentary series (assistant composer)
2014–18 Composition and production of works for TV series including Dixi (BBC), CSI, Grey’s Anatomy and Catfish (MTV) and international advertising campaigns including Sudafed and Johnnie Walker.
2013–16 Conception and live manipulation of experiential sound pieces at London’s V&A, Liverpool Biennial and Tate Liverpool
Additional Professional Experience
Athens Concert Hall (Megaron Mousikis) - member of judging panel for the 3rd International Animation Composition Competition (in association with Anima Syros festival)
Capac - electronic/experimental project - 3x albums, 3x EPs (composition, arrangement, recording, production, live performance), 2009–present
Shy Nature - alternative rock project - 1x album, 2x EPs, various singles (composition, arrangement, recording, production, live performance inc. BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Field Day, The Great Escape and international corporate shows Burberry and Chanel), 2013–present
Session Guitarist - performing at a wide range of events as a solo guitarist, accompanying vocalists, playing as part of a duo, trio, quartet, quintet, including for Fiat, Quaglino’s Mayfair (D&D London) and at Liverpool University functions, 2006–present
Teaching Experience
Workshop co-leader, ‘Towards an Ensemble: Presence, Impulse, Resonance’ (ensemble theatre training for professional actors), Kinitiras Studio/Quilombo, Athens and Politheatro, Ioannina, 2016-18
Music Coordinator, St Peter’s CE Primary School, London, 2014–16
Music Coordinator, Edward Wilson Primary School, London, 2011–14
Curriculum Music Teacher, Liverpool Music Support Service, 2009–11
Skills
Main instruments: guitar, piano, voice. Secondary instruments: bass, drums, percussion
Recording, production and notation: Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, Dorico Pro
Video editing: Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro
Languages: English (native), Greek (advanced), Spanish (advanced)