WILLIAM GOODCHILD

March 2012 Concert

2012-01-18T15:34:00.000Z

Natalia Lomeiko, violin soloist
Photo © Sasha Gusov

America comes to Bristol with two stunning masterpieces composed in the 1940s. Copland's signature Appalachian Spring, originally conceived as ballet music and later revised as an orchestral suite, is instantly recognisable for its unforgettable Shaker Melody. In the US, Samuel Barber's elegaic, lyrically romantic Violin Concerto is revered. And here, the brilliant, internationally acclaimed Russian violinist Natalia Lomeiko offers a wonderfully persuasive advocacy for the work. Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra complete's the concert with Dvorak's magnificent, intensely Czech, Symphony No. 7 in D Minor. The concert is conducted by William Goodchild.

The concert takes place at 7.30 pm on Saturday 10 March at St. George's Bristol. For full information and ticket booking, please click HERE.

"Lomeiko is one of the most brilliant of our younger violinists." Yehudi Menuhin

BBC Natural World - Jungle Gremlins of Java

2012-01-16T18:44:00.020Z

Jungle Gremlins of Java is produced for BBC Natural World by ICON Films. It tracks the toxic slow loris and goes undercover to reveal the illegal worldwide trade in loris for pets. For further details about the programme including its transmission, please click HERE.

Directed by Steve Gooder and edited by Rupert Troskie, this hour long programme is presented by Dr. Anna Nekaris and narrated by Paul McGann. The music is composed and produced by William Goodchild. The score makes use of vocal and instrumental sounds such as karinding, bamboo percussion, chanting and rice pounding, which were recorded whilst the crew was filming in Indonesia. The score also features performances by guitarist Dan Brown (Massive Attack, Phantom Limb) and singer Joanna Swan (Ilya).

To hear some of the music from the programme, please click HERE.

Dr Anna Nekaris has set up a 'fire face project' to save the slow loris via ecology, education and empowerment. You can find out more about this project by clicking HERE.

Javan Slow Loris

Photograph by Dr. Anna Nekaris

Gala Concert

2011-12-17T16:18:00.008Z

Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra with conductor William Goodchild
Photograph © Rosa Fay Photography 2011

Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra under its conductor William Goodchild performing at Colston Hall for the Gala Concert in aid of the 2011 Cots for Tots Appeal supporting the Special Care Baby Unit at St. Michael's Hospital Bristol. The concert featured 250 male voices from Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Basingstoke, Bristol, Cheddar, and Churchdown male voice choirs. Choral director and orchestral wind tutor Steve Daykin shared the podium. An audience of over 900 attended the event which was presented by Bristol actor John Telfer - vicar Alan Franks from BBC's The Archers.

The programme included a variety of popular orchestral classical items including Ireland's Epic March, Sibelius's Finlandia, and Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. Violin soloist Emil Huckle-Kleve performed The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams, Monti's Czardas, and Danse Macabre by Saint-Saëns. The choir sung a variety of well known choral pieces including Gwahoddiad, Morte Criste, and American Trilogy.

After the interval and before the second half, Lauren Vincent, Fundraising Manager, 2011 Cots for Tots Appeal, and Jackie Cornish OBE, Director of Women and Children's Division, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, gave talks on the roles and activities of the charity.

The event raised over £6,000 for 2011 Cots for Tots Appeal.

City University London

2011-11-30T13:20:00.003Z

William Goodchild was invited to share professional working practice with students at City University London. The morning was spent with Music undergraduates looking at composing for film and television. The session took the form of a lecture illustrated with film clips and audio examples from a recent BBC Natural World commission.

In the afternoon, William gave a seminar to postgraduate composition students on orchestration, score and parts production, and preparing for and running a recording session. A range of different ensembles was discussed from full symphony orchestra on projects like Nature's Great Events (BBC), through chamber orchestra (Ganges, BBC) to string quartet (Catching the Impossible, Independent). The full range of an orchestrator's task was investigated, from basic transcription to extended realisations. Subjects such as working from electronic sketches, preparation of click and backing tracks, preparation of cue sheets, and rehearsing and recording an ensemble were also discussed.

Nordic Wild

2011-11-05T16:26:00.004Z

Wildlife series (4 x 60 mins) for National Geographic International with music composed and produced by William Goodchild.

Full details about the series including transmission times and dates can be found HERE.

Wildlife Film-making

2011-10-18T10:56:00.009+01:00

What does the future of wildlife film-making hold for us all? Wildlife Film-making - Looking to the Future (2011) is a new publication from Wildeye which attempts to answer this question.

As technology advances rapidly and viewers' options increase, this book presents a unique collection of views and advice that make it an invaluable resource for wildlife film-makers wishing to succeed in the years to come. The book is edited by Piers Warren (Wildeye Principal) with a foreword by Neil Nightingale (BBC NHU) and contains articles from many leading figures in the industry, plus case studies of numerous skilled practitioners. William Goodchild has contributed one of two composer case studies.

Full details of Wildlife Film-making - Looking to the Future are available HERE.

The book can be purchased on Amazon via this link HERE.

Wild Amazon

2011-10-12T11:18:00.015+01:00

Wild Amazon is a new two-part wildlife series directed and produced by Mitch Turnbull for Parthenon Entertainment in Bristol. The series, broadcast by National Geographic International, will be shown on the National Geographic Channel from Friday 28 October 2011 at 8:00 pm. William Goodchild composed and produced the music, co-writing this project with composer and guitarist Nick Pullin.

The series takes the viewer on a journey deep into the heart of the Amazon. Home to the largest rainforest and mightiest river on earth, the Amazon is dense with a huge array of animal and plant species, from the elusive jaguar to leaf-cutter ants. Using stunning photography, Wild Amazon showcases this extraordinary wilderness and the people with whom they share their home. The programme also investigates the environmental threats faced by the Amazon and the tests being carried out by scientists looking to understand the complex interrelationships between animals, plants and habitat.

Episode Guide
Wild Amazon: Cradle of Life explores the wildlife of the Amazon basin including flowers that trap beetles to change sex overnight. The threat of human activity in the region is also covered in this episode.

Wild Amazon: Savage Realm explores strategies for survival from the canopy to the forest floor, including a tiny frog which protects a tarantula.

See HERE for details about broadcasts.

Earth Music Bristol: Coral Triangle

2011-10-12T10:10:00.009+01:00

Nature Picture Library in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has commissioned William Goodchild to write and produce music for a new stills photography project called Coral Triangle to first be shown at Earth Music Bristol this November.

The Coral Triangle covers 6 million square kilometers across the seas of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.

Between March 2009 and August 2011 Jürgen and Stella Freund undertook an 18-month photojournalistic expedition into the heart of the Coral Triangle, investigating the connectivity between the wildlife and peoples of the region, and the threats they face. Commissioned by WWF, this top photographic team has captured all the beauty and richness of a region often referred to as the 'nursery of the seas'.

William will be introducing Coral Triangle and talking about music for wildlife film at a 'Meet the Film Composer' session as part of Earth Music Bristol. This session will take place at 11:00 am on Wednesday 23 November 2011 at St. George's Bristol.

Earth Music Bristol, a festival of music inspired by the living world and the forces of nature, is presented by St. George's Bristol in association with BBC Radio 3. The festival's Founder and Artistic Director is Edward Cowie and the Co-Director is Suzanne Rolt. Details of festival events, including concerts and talks, and how to book can be found HERE.

Talk: Wildlife Film - Working with Music

2011-10-06T12:34:00.007+01:00

Using clips from recent BBC, Nat Geo and Animal Planet projects, I shall be giving a talk on writing and producing music for wildlife film, as part of the Shepton Mallet Digital Arts Festival 2011. The talk runs from 7.00 - 8.00 pm on Friday 7 October 2011 and will take place at the Blue Tower Theatre, Shepton Mallet. Full details of the talk including how to book, and location directions, are available HERE.

Riot Raffle

2011-08-24T17:16:00.008+01:00

Riot Raffle was set up by Zoe Grant to help raise funds for small independent shops that were effected by the recent London riots. Over 80 independent companies have come on board and donated their products to Riot Raffle. Please help to raise money today by buying a £1 raffle ticket. A click on the link below will take you to the right place!

Click HERE to buy your raffle ticket

I will be contributing two items for the raffle: a DVD entitled Lobo - the Wolf that Changed America, which is a BBC Natural World production narrated by Sir David Attenborough for which I wrote and produced the music; and, a book entitled Wild Animals I have Known by Ernest Thompson Seaton. The film is based on one of the stories, Lobo, from the book. The film scooped two major awards: the 'Outstanding Achievement Award' at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival 2009, and the 'Jury's Special Prize' at the Wildscreen International Film Festival 2008. Set in the wild west, Lobo is a highly emotional true story of an epic dual between man and beast. The events of the story led to a pivotal moment in American history with far-reaching consequences.

For information on 1) how Riot Raffle works, please click HERE, and 2) Retail Trust, the charity, please click HERE. You can see this prize on the Riot Raffle site HERE.

Music for the score features performances by John Hoare (trumpet and flugelhorn), Dan Brown (guitar and bass) and Stew Jackson (banjo, guitar and pedal steel guitar). You can listen to some of the pieces from the BBC documentary on my website HERE

Gala Concert

2011-07-07T18:12:00.007+01:00

Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra presents a spectacular gala concert together with 250 male voices and violin soloist, Emil Huckle-Kleve.

In aid of the 2011 'Cots for Tots Appeal' supporting the Special Care Baby Unit at St. Michael's Hospital Bristol, the gala performance features Vaughan Williams's heavenly The Lark Ascending, Sibelius's Finlandia as well as popular songs Rhythm of Life and American Trilogy.

Well-known Bristol actor, John Telfer (Vicar Alan Franks in The Archers), will host the evening. The concert will be conducted by Steve Daykin and William Goodchild.

7.30 pm, Saturday 19 November at Colston Hall, Bristol.

For full details including how to book tickets, please see HERE.

Mihai Cocea, violist

2011-07-03T17:29:00.011+01:00

On Saturday 2 July 2011 at St. George's Bristol, violist Mihai Cocea joined conductor William Goodchild and Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra for a performance of Berlioz's Harold in Italy.

Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra, July 2011

2011-07-01T17:15:00.005+01:00

Guardian Review

2011-04-27T17:04:00.008+01:00

"Richard E. Grant had a brilliant time travelling the Middle East uncovering the history and dissemination of Scheherazade's stories in Secrets of the Arabian Nights (BBC4) and gave the viewer a brilliant time right back. An articulate, enthusiastic and interested guide to one of his favourite childhood reads, neither he nor the programme makers were afraid to let the people who knew stuff - professors of Arabic literature, lifetime experts in folklore and fairytales - tell us about it at length.

A lovely documentary that sent me, as such things should, to dig out my copy to read with renewed and slightly more informed interest."

Lucy Mangan, The Guardian, Thursday 21 April 2011

Awards: Iraq documentary

2011-04-18T19:49:00.010+01:00

Aqua Vita and WNET picked up two highly prestigious awards for Braving Iraq, shown on PBS NATURE series in the USA last November.

The film won the 2011 Gold World Medal in the Environment and Ecology category at the New York Festival's International Film and Television Awards in Las Vegas.

It also won Best in Category Award at the International Wildlife Film Festival - Best Conservation and Environmental Issue and Merit for Conservation Message for the BBC version Miracle in the Marshes of Iraq.

The documentary tells the remarkable story of water engineer Azzam Alwash and the Iraqi people's attempts to restore the Mesapotamian Marshes after Saddam Hussein drained them to less than a tenth of what they were in the 1980s. The film was told and directed by David Johnson and filmed by Steve Foote, with an original score by William Goodchild.

The film was a co-production between PBS and the BBC. In America it appeared as Braving Iraq, in England as Miracle in the Marshes of Iraq where it was shown as a Natural World Special on BBC Two in January 2011.

The awards are also great recognition for the remarkable work that Azzam Alwash and his team at Nature Iraq are doing in the Marshes.

The film was made thanks to Fred Kaufman and his team at WNET 13 in New York, and Tim Martin and his team at BBC Natural World.

Secrets of the Arabian Nights (BBC)

2011-03-23T14:46:00.013Z

Secrets of the Arabian Nights broadcasts on BBC4, Thursday 21 April at 9pm.

Richard E Grant re-opens one of his favourite children's books, The 1001 Arabian Nights, to explore its extraordinary impact on Western culture. Journeying to Cairo, and the desert wildernesses beyond, he searches for the world that led to the creation of the Arabian Nights.

The stories first arrived in the West 300 years ago, translated from a 14th-century Syrian manuscript by the French orientalist Antoine Galland. Overnight the tales became a huge hit in every European country. Readers were fascinated by the central character, Sharazade, who each night recounted stories of princes, genies, demons and robbers, to her husband the King in a desperate bid to avoid execution.

Richard visits Galland's original manuscripts in Paris and explores how the stories inspired hit shows on the 18th-century stage in London. Three of the stories, Sinbad, Ali Baba and Aladdin, have inspired countless plays, pantomimes and films as well as becoming part of the literary canon for children and adults alike. However, during Richard's journey he also discovers that the tales are shrouded in controversy, including calls for a ban on The 1001 Arabian Nights in some parts of the world today.

The programme was produced and directed by Mark Fielder and Lizzie White for Quickfire Media, with music composed by William Goodchild.

See more of William's recent commissions here.

Nocturnes, Big Screen Music

2011-03-23T14:35:00.008Z

Big Screen Music have issued their latest production music album. Called Nocturnes, the album comprises piano and chamber music inspired by the Impressionists and includes pieces by Ian Dolamore, Mark Revell, Nicholas Pullin, Rob Lane, Vince Watts, and William Goodchild.

Full details of Nocturnes can be found here.

Benjamin Hughes, cellist

2011-03-06T17:50:00.005Z

Benjamin Hughes, Principal Cello of the BBC Concert Orchestra, joined conductor William Goodchild and Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra for a performance of Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1. Saturday 5 March 2011 at St. George's Bristol.

Video Clip

2011-02-05T16:10:00.004Z

BBC Natural World - Chimps of the Lost Gorge

2011-02-05T13:50:00.007Z

Brutus and his family live in a deep and ancient forested gorge that cuts through the grass plains of Uganda's rift valley - it seems like jungle heaven, but they're trapped! Cut off by deforestation they're learning to adapt to the alien savannah, but fate keeps turning against them. Can they make a future here or are their days numbered? As the rainforest fragments all over Africa, chimpanzees everywhere will soon face the same sentence. Forest corridors must be opened, but it's an almighty task!

This 60 minute wildlife documentary was produced by Verity White, edited by James Taggart with music composed and produced by William Goodchild. The score features performances by percussionists Chas Whitaker and Tim Garside. Series Producer for BBC Natural World is Steve Greenwood, and Series Editor is Tim Martin.

Full details of the show including clips and stills can be found here.

Chimps of the Lost Gorge Broadcasts BBC2 on 8 February at 7pm

Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra, March 2011

2011-01-25T16:50:00.007Z

Independent & Guardian Reviews

2011-01-20T22:41:00.006Z

BBC Natural World Special

2011-01-14T11:20:00.005Z

This is the remarkable story of how the Garden of Eden, the birth place of Western Civilisation, found between the Tigris and Euphrates is being restored after it was decimated by Saddam Hussein. Known as the Mesopotamia Marshes, its people and wildlife were either destroyed or driven out, reducing this unique water world to a tenth of its original size. Producer David Johnson and cameraman Steve Foote travel to Iraq amidst the turmoil of the recent elections, braving potential terrorist attacks, in order to meet Azzam Alwash, a water engineer, who is behind this incredible project. Produced and Directed by David Johnson with music composed and produced by William Goodchild. Executive Producer for Aqua Vita Films - Bernard Walton.

Music South West 2010

2010-11-26T11:08:00.007Z

Panel conversation on Music, Media and Performance as part of this two-day music conference at Bristol Watershed. The panel featured international conductor Charles Hazlewood, composer Craig Pruess ('Bend it Like Beckham', 'Bride and Prejudice'), Steve Sattersthwaite (co-founder and MD of Hope Recordings & Hope Management), Stephen Barnes ('Upside Down: The Creation Records Story') and was chaired by William Goodchild.

Topics covered included:
Music for Film & TV: commissioning/ pitching, key relationships, library/ production music/ sync licenses, and working to brief.
Performance: different platforms, new approaches/ new work, cross-genre projects, ways of building and developing audiences.
General: areas of growth and decline, how to build, develop and maintain contacts.

For full details of the panel including panellist biogs, click here

BMCO Concert, November 2010

2010-11-22T14:04:00.008Z

Performing and receiving applause at our recent St. George's Bristol concert. London Works featured Handel's Water Music Suite, orchestrated by Hamilton Harty, Haydn's Symphony No. 104 The London, and Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 2 A London Symphony. BMCO conducted by William Goodchild.

In January 2011 the orchestra changes its name to Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra. The first concert under the new name will be Russian Classics at St. George's Bristol on 5 March 2011. The concert will feature BBC Concert Orchestra Principal Cellist, Benjamin Hughes, in a performance of Shostakovich's Concerto No. 1 for Cello. Also on the programme will be Shostakovich'e Festive Overture and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor.

Braving Iraq

2010-11-04T14:24:00.010Z

Aqua Vita Films' Braving Iraq airs on PBS, Sunday, November 7 2010 at 8pm and is part of the 29th season of the Peabody and Emmy award-winning series produced by Thirteen in association with WNET.ORG for PBS.

Produced and Directed by David Johnson with music composed and produced by William Goodchild. Executive Producer for Aqua Vita Films - Bernard Walton.

BMCO November 2010

2010-10-31T08:09:00.006Z

BMCO conducted by William Goodchild perform London Works at St. George's Bristol. 7.30pm, Saturday 13 November 2010.

Full details including advanced ticket booking here. Tickets also available on the door.

William Goodchild: 'A heartfelt, awe-inspiring performance under the expert guidance of the excellent William Goodchild.' Bristol Evening Post.

Recording Session

2010-10-31T07:53:00.010Z

Tim Garside recording North African percussion for two BBC documentaries: Lost Chimps of Kyambura, and Secrets of the Arabian Nights. Two 2-hour sessions took place at Christchurch Studios, Clifton, engineered by Ian Humphries. Lost Chimps of Kyambura is produced and directed by Verity White for the BBC Natural History Unit; Secrets of the Arabian Nights is produced and directed by Mark Fielder and Lizzie White of Quickfire Media for the BBC. Music composed and produced by William Goodchild. Both programmes air early in 2011.

Brown Paper Bag

2010-07-12T23:22:00.004+01:00

Roni Size & Reprazent with composer William Goodchild and Bristol Ensemble at Colston Hall Bristol on 25 September 2009. Brown Paper Bag - the big hit from Roni's 1997 Mercury Prize-Winning album - orchestrated and played live as part of this sell-out concert.

BBC Mountain Gorilla

2010-07-10T13:24:00.012+01:00

Working with Bristol Ensemble (leader, Roger Huckle) at Christchurch Studios recording the music for Mountain Gorilla - a three-part BBC wildlife series broadcast in the autumn. Music composed by David Poore, orchestrated and conducted by William Goodchild and engineered by Ian Humphreys. 3 sessions took place across May/ June 2010. Photos © Rachel Goodchild.

Future : Retro

2010-07-08T12:45:00.005+01:00

Roni Size & Reprazent with orchestrator/ conductor William Goodchild, Bristol Ensemble and Gospel Choir live at Bristol's Colston Hall on Friday 25th September. This song: Rodeo.

BMCO Rehearsal

2010-07-03T14:39:00.003+01:00

A great rehearsal today in preparation for BMCO's concert tonight at St Georges Bristol. Violin soloist Emil Huckle-Kleve gave an outstanding performance of the Dvorak concerto.

Making Sound Work

2010-06-02T20:23:00.011+01:00

MAKING SOUND WORK

University London for two days of discussions, interviews, talks and presentations by musicians and composers working in film, media and digital music.

22-23 June 2010

City University Department of Music with Sound and Music and Screened Music Network

Day 1 on MUSIC AND THE MOVING IMAGE (with Screened Music Network) – hear from music licensing executives about how music is placed in advertisements, film and television, a panel discussion on MUSIC, MEDIA AND OPPORTUNITIES with composers Alex Heffes, Nina Humphreys, William Goodchild and Rob Lane, and a keynote interview with Patrick Doyle, renowned composer for Gosford Park, Nanny McPhee and Bridget Jones’ Diary.

Day 2 on DIGITAL MUSIC AND MEDIA (with Sound and Music) - an interview with Chris Watson, musician and wildlife sound recordist, panel presentations on MAKING SOUND WORK with sound artists Scanner, Brains and Hunch, installation artist Helena Hunter and workshop leader Patrick Furness, and a presentation by multimedia production company and VJs, The Light Surgeons.

£5 each day, free for students, members of Screened Music Network or Sound and Music with ID. SPACE IS LIMITED! For further info and to reserve your ticket online.

Wild Russia - Siberia: Opening Sequence

2010-05-25T10:03:00.006+01:00

Opening of show. Sequence from Wild Russia: Siberia (2009), broadcast by National Geographic International. Series produced by Amanda Theunissen for Parthenon Entertainment Ltd, directed by Dan Habershon-Butcher with music composed and produced by William Goodchild and featuring guitarist Nick Pullin. This film is a 2010 Panda Award Finalist at the Wildscreen Global Wildlife Film Festival: Popular Broadcast Programme category. More details here

Wild Russia - Siberia: Wild Horses

2010-05-25T09:37:00.007+01:00

Wild Horses. Sequence from Wild Russia: Siberia (2009), broadcast by National Geographic International. Series produced by Amanda Theunissen for Parthenon Entertainment Ltd, directed by Dan Habershon-Butcher with music composed and produced by William Goodchild and featuring guitarist Nick Pullin.

Bristol Music Foundation Seminar

2010-05-20T12:59:00.035+01:00

Writing music for Film and TV: a Seminar given by William Goodchild

16th June, 7 - 9pm, Colston Hall Education Suite One

For details about the course see the Music Industry Education website. The seminar costs £20 for BMF members and £30 for non-members.

Tickets for the event can be bought in advance from HERE

Festival of Nature Workshop 2010

2010-05-20T12:38:00.020+01:00

WORKSHOP LEADER: William Goodchild

June 2nd - 5th 2010

Festival of Nature has joined forces with the BBC Concert Orchestra. At the heart of the Festival of Nature is a mandate to find new ways to connect people with nature - through activities, performance, hands-on learning, exploration and discovery. This June, we'll be using music and composition to get 14-19 year olds thinking about nature in a whole new way.

This year, in the run up to the Festival, young musicians across the city will be taking part in a unique workshop writing their very own film score to a natural history production, and along the way developing thier performance, composition, improvisation & ensemble skills.

Join us at the world premiere performance of local young musicians and BBC Concert Orchestra performers at 3pm, Saturday June 5th at Armada House. Tickets are now available by emailing Sara at sara@bnhc.org.uk. Further opportunities to hear the composition will include video and audio broadcast at the Bristol Festival of Nature and online and radio broadcast - watch this space!

BMCO JULY 2010

2010-04-28T12:23:00.007+01:00

The BMCO's summer concert opens with Grieg's spectacular first Orchestral Suite from the incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt and concludes with a superbly judged performance of Sibelius's masterful, majestic Fifth Symphony, commissioned in honour of the composer's birthday. Between the two pieces, outstanding Bristol violinist Emil Huckle-Kleve - string semi-finalist in the BBC's Young Musician of the Year competition in 2005 - joins the orchestra for a sparkling performance of Dvorak's beloved, richly lyrical concerto.

Wild Russia: Siberia - Forest, Reindeer, Yakut People

2010-04-28T11:58:00.007+01:00

The largest forest in the world, reindeer, and their relationship to the Yakut people. Wild Russia series produced for Parthenon Entertainmentby Amanda Theunissen, directed by Dan Habershon-Butcher with music composed and produced by William Goodchild. Broadcast by National Geographic International.

Wild Russia - Siberia: Forest, Reindeer, Yakut People

2010-04-28T11:56:00.007+01:00

Forest, Reindeer, and Yakut people. Sequence from Wild Russia: Siberia (2009), broadcast by National Geographic International. Series produced by Amanda Theunissen for Parthenon Entertainment Ltd, directed by Dan Habershon-Butcher with music composed and produced by William Goodchild and featuring guitarist Nick Pullin.

Concert with Roni Size

2010-03-20T20:30:00.005Z

CONCER

Bristol University MAFTV

2010-01-27T09:39:00.015Z

Working with Bristol University MA composition students on their final assignment for the Music for Film & Television course (tutor: William Goodchild). Each of the eight students composed music for a short film sequence taken from Wild Russia - a wildlife series recently broadcast on National Geographic and Animal Planet and scored by William Goodchild. The chamber orchestra consisted of string quintet, wind quintet, harp, piano, trumpet, trombone, timpani & percussion; the leader was Roger Huckle, musical director of the Bristol Ensemble. Sessions took place in the Victoria Rooms, Clifton and the music was recorded by Jonathan Scott.

BMCO March 2010

2010-01-27T09:11:00.015Z

BMCO perform with celebrated soprano Charlotte Newstead at St. George's Bristol. Programme includes Brahms - Tragic Overture, Strauss - Four Last Songs and Holst - The Planets. Full details including advanced ticket booking here. Tickets also available on the door.

Charlotte Newstead: 'A dazzling display of virtuoso singing.' Bristol Evening Post.

William Goodchild: 'A heartfelt, awe-inspiring performance, under the expert guidance of the excellent William Goodchild.' Bristol Evening Post.

Images: Ilya St. George's Bristol

2010-01-27T09:02:00.009Z

Ilya January 2010

2010-01-12T12:44:00.011Z

As part of the Bristol Acoustic Music Festival, Ilya perform songs from the new album 'Carving Heads on Cherry Stones'. Featuring Joanna Swan (vocals), Nick Pullin (guitars), William Goodchild (bass), Jacob Morrison (banjo, mandolin, guitar), Gina Griffin (violin) and Daisy Palmer (kit). Tickets available in advance from St. George's Bristol

Images: BMCO November 2009

2010-01-12T12:04:00.011Z

BMCO in action at St. George's on November 14th 2009. The soloist is international pianist Penelope Roskell who performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor K491. Programme also included Kodaly's virtuoso masterpiece for orchestra Dances of Galanta, and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56. Concert conducted by William Goodchild. Photos by Rachel Goodchild.

Abbey Road: Great Rift

2009-11-24T16:33:00.007Z

Conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. The Great Rift is a 3-part wildlife series for BBC produced by Phil Chapman and will be broadcast in early 2010. The series composer is Barnaby Taylor and the music orchestrated and conducted by William Goodchild. Sessions 1 & 2 took place on 23rd November. Session 3 on 6th January 2009.

Catching the Impossible

2009-10-12T22:44:00.005+01:00

Music for Programme 7 of Catching the Impossible, a 9-part series produced by Hugh Miles and composed by David Poore, is being recorded at Christchurch Studios, Clifton, Bristol on Wednesday 14th October 2009 by Emerald Ensemble arranged and conducted by William Goodchild.

Awards: Lobo

2009-10-12T15:54:00.008+01:00

Lobo - the Wolf that Changed America (BBC Natural World & Thirteen/ WNET New York) has just won an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Jackson Hole International Film Festival (2009). This 50 minute wildlife documentary was produced by Brian Leith, directed by Steve Gooder, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, with music composed and produced by William Goodchild. The film also scooped the Jury's Special Prize at last year's Wildscreen Wildlife and Environmental Film Festival (2008)

BMCO November 2009

2009-10-11T16:25:00.009+01:00

Orchestral concert at St. George's Bristol featuring international pianist Penelope Roskell in a performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 24 in C Minor, K.491. Programme also includes Kodaly's Dances of Galanta, and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56. BMCO conducted by William Goodchild. Full details including tickets here. Tickets also available on the door.

Wild Russia

2009-10-04T14:09:00.003+01:00

A six part natural history series (6 x 50 minutes) on the wildlife of Russia. Wild Russia is produced by Parthenon Entertainment Ltd for National Geographic International and Animal Planet. Series produced by Amanda Theunissen and Directed by Dan Habershon-Butcher. Airs worldwide from October 2009. Music composed and produced by William Goodchild.

Video: Wild Russia

2009-10-03T12:33:00.009+01:00

St. Paul's Cathedral, London

2009-10-02T14:19:00.007+01:00

Motet entitled Lord, Only in Knowing You for 200 singers SATB and organ composed by William Goodchild for the quincentenary of St. Paul's School. The piece was performed as part of the service which took place at 2.30pm on Thursday 1st October 2009. The piece will be performed again and recorded later in the school year.

ILYA September 2009

2009-09-27T15:36:00.008+01:00

Playing Bass with Ilya featuring Joanna Swan, vocals. Bristol Uncovered at Colston Hall Foyer on Sunday 27th September.

Roni Size & William Goodchild

2009-09-25T14:29:00.005+01:00

Reprazent, Emerald Ensemble & Gospel Choir
Photo (by Emily Swan-Piti) taken at the concert on Friday, 25th September at Bristol's Colston Hall as part of the Festival celebrating the opening of the new £22m foyer. The concert which featured Roni on stage with a 7-piece Reprazent, 24-piece Emerald Ensemble orchestra and 8 singers was orchestrated and conducted by William Goodchild.

Nature's Great Events Live

2009-09-22T14:48:00.010+01:00

Photos from the afternoon's rehearsal at Bristol's Colston Hall prior to the sell-out evening concert on Tuesday 22nd September 2009. Spectacular footage from the BBC Natural History Unit's award-winning series Nature's Great Events with music by Barnaby Taylor and Ben Salisbury performed live by the BBC Concert Orchestra, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, orchestrated and conducted by William Goodchild.

Drawer of Dreams

2009-09-18T15:15:00.006+01:00

A dark circus theatre piece conceived and produced by David Adams, performed at Colston Hall on 18th September 2009 by Cirque Bijou with the Emerald Ensemble conducted by Charles Hazlewood. Orchestrated by William Goodchild.

Video: Drawer of Dreams

2009-09-17T12:43:00.003+01:00

Wild Japan

2009-08-26T15:22:00.004+01:00

Scoring begins on this 50 minute wildlife documentary produced by Parthenon Entertainment Ltd for broadcast on National Geographic International and Animal Planet. Produced by Amanda Theunissen and Directed by Dan Habershon-Butcher. Music composed and produced by William Goodchild and Nick Pullin.

Roni Size Concert

2009-08-25T21:36:00.004+01:00

Roni Size, Reprazent and William Goodchild

featuring The Emerald Ensemble & gospel choir

Friday 25^th September 8pm

A one-off evening with Bristol's own world master of drum 'n bass. Commissioned especially for the celebrations. Roni Size is working with orchestrator William Goodchild on a piece that combines his own musical influences with that of his band Reprazent, Bristol's chamber orchestra The Emerald Ensemble and a choir. A unique chance to hear a musical legend pushing the boundaries.

Colston Hall box office on 0117 922 3686 or you can book online:

For ticket sales, click HERE.

BMCO JULY 2009

2009-07-04T16:38:00.010+01:00

Orchestral concert featuring international soloist and chamber musician Sara Lovell, cello, in a performance of Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, H. 7B. Programme also includes Mendelssohn's concert overture Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Op. 27, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68, 'Pastoral'. BMCO conducted by William Goodchild. Saturday 4th July 2009 at 7.30pm, St. George's Bristol.

Press Release

2009-06-03T15:43:00.018+01:00

Sir David Attenborough confirmed as narrator

for Nature’s Great Events

Colston Hall Bristol is delighted to announce that as part of its opening celebrations Sir David Attenborough will be joining Bristol conductor William Goodchild and the BBC Concert Orchestra for the premiere of the live screening of Nature’s Great Events on Tuesday 22 September at 7.30pm.

The premiere will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the spectacular footage from BBC Natural History’s award-winning Nature’s Great Events on a big screen – including the spectacular sardine feeding frenzy, with each piece of footage narrated and introduced by Sir David Attenborough and a live version of the epic score that features in the series played by the renowned BBC Concert Orchestra.

Peter Conway, Creative Producer for the celebrations said;

‘This is a coup for the Colston Hall celebrations. We are delighted that Sir David has accepted our invitation to narrate the concert premiere, which is one of the major highlights of the celebrations’.

This is a unique event that can’t be seen or heard anywhere else in the world that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Tickets are available prices £30, £25, £20 and half price for under 12s from Colston Hall box office on 0117 922 3686 or you can book online: For ticket sales, click HERE.

BMCO March 2009

2009-03-07T21:54:00.008Z

Romantic Masterpieces: Pianist Nicola Meecham with BMCO at St. George's Bristol

Orchestral concert featuring pianist Nicola Meecham in Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto accompanied by BMCO conducted by William Goodchild. Programme also includes Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture and Brahm's Second Symphony. 7.30pm, 7th March 2009 at St. George's Bristol. Full details including brief programme note and ticket prices here.

Snow Monkey

2009-02-13T20:00:00.006Z

Original music composed by William Goodchild

View programme details here

Nature's Great Events

2009-02-11T21:00:00.007Z

Music composed by Barnaby Taylor and Ben Salisbury. Orchestrated and conducted by William Goodchild

View series details here

Video: Nature's Great Events

2009-02-10T13:04:00.003Z

Abbey Road Studios, London

2009-01-15T21:53:00.011Z

Conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra recording the music for Nature's Great Events, a six-part Natural History series for BBC1. Music composed by Barnaby Taylor and Ben Salisbury. Orchestrated and conducted by William Goodchild

Espionage, Big Screen Music

2008-08-24T21:05:00.002+01:00

Espionage from Big Screen Music. 'An explosive blockbuster mix of contemporary and retro secret agent and spy genres', BSM. Pieces by Andrew Barnabas, Corin Buckeridge, Paul Arnold, William Goodchild and other British film and television composers.

The tracks and full details of the album can be found HERE.

After Dark, Big Screen Music

2008-08-08T20:45:00.007+01:00

Big Screen Music's production album release After Dark is described by the producers as 'an art house soundtrack of exotic, sensual, luscious and mysterious themes'. The album features music by a range of British film and television composers including Amir Kalif, Chris Banks, Wayne Urquhart and William Goodchild.

To hear the pieces and find out more about this album, please click HERE.

Awakenings, Big Screen Music

2008-08-07T20:29:00.026+01:00

Big Screen Music's Awakenings album features compositions by a range of British composers including Alex Baranowski, Anne Nitikin, Dov Waterman, James Jones, Rob Manning and William Goodchild, amongst others. The brief for this production music release was for expressively uplifting and enchanting music in a classical vein.

Full details of the album and to hear the pieces, please click HERE.

Lobo - the Wolf that Changed America

2008-04-02T19:36:00.004+01:00

A 50 minute Natural History documentary for BBC Natural World and Thirteen/ WNET (New York). Produced by Brian Leith, Directed by Steve Gooder and Narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Music composed by William Goodchild. Lobo won the Jury's Special Prize at the Wildscreen International Film Festival 2008

Video: Lobo - the Wolf that Changed America

2008-04-01T13:00:00.003+01:00

Humpbacks - from Fire to Ice

2008-01-28T19:54:00.006Z

A 50 minute Natural History documentary for ABC (Australia) and National Geographic. Produced and Directed by Ross Isaacs, and Narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Music composed by Barnaby Taylor and William Goodchild.

Find out about the programme including how it was made here