David Ellis (composer)

David Ellis (10 March 1933 – 20 April 2023) was an English composer, arranger and music producer at the BBC. Career Ellis was born in Liverpool, attending the Liverpool Institute (where he first met fellow composer John McCabe), and then the Royal Manchester College of Music (1953–57) where his composition teacher was Thomas Pitfield. His contemporaries in Manchester were Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies, Alexander Goehr, Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon. From 1964 Ellis worked as a producer at the BBC, becoming Head of Music for BBC North in 1977. In 1986 he took up the position of artistic director, Northern Chamber Orchestra where he was also composer-in-residence. From the mid-1990s Ellis took up composition full-time. Composition His works include symphonies, concertos (for violin, cello, piano), works for strings (such as the Vale Royal Suite), three string quartets (1980, 1996, 2002) and much other chamber music. Ellis also had a particular interest in composing and arranging works for brass band. His catalogue stretches to 91 opus numbers. In 2004 the Camerata also premiered the String Quartet No 3, op. 70. David Ellis had a wide circle of musical friends, including Ma