Alumnus Kyriakos Costa has composed three original pieces with CHROMA Ensemble. He speaks about his inspirations, the process of composing, and the opportunities he had at Royal Holloway which made this possible.

Kyriakos Costa, (BA and MA Music,2020) decided to study Music at Royal Holloway because ‘the course is one of the most acknowledged music courses in the UK’. One of the things he enjoyed the most was the exposure to both the practical and academic aspects of music. He says that it helped him ‘dig into some fascinating composers and extraordinary colourful harmonies I had not been exposed to before, and at the same time to appreciate academic music. I had no idea that I would be fond of it by the end of my degree. Academia also empowered me with an encyclopaedic knowledge that I would later appreciate as a means of approaching music in multilayered ways of thinking.’

One of his favourite memories of his time at Royal Holloway was his participation in the Young Generation Composers Festival 2020. His time at the festival was crucial, as it led to the creation of ‘Clockwise’ which is now part of the ‘Sundial’ project. ‘The aim of the festival,’ he describes, ‘was to prepare an ‘Open-Score’ music, which means a non-instrument-specific composition. The process of it, including workshops and rehearsals with colleagues, was enlightening, leading to the presentation of my composition ‘Clockwise’ for piano, flute and clarinet. I would personally like to thank Nathan James Dearden for choosing me in the first place and running all the organisational processes of this programme so brilliantly.’

When asked about his project ‘Sundial’ with CHROMA Ensemble, he states that it would not have been possible without the Royal Holloway Student Opportunities Fund, which allowed him to present his ‘long awaited project’. 'I would also like to thank flautist and last-minute sound-engineer Gavin Stewart,', he says, 'whose help and spirit have been catalytic factors to the completion of this project.'

‘Like the sun,’ he states, ‘whose shadow creates paths, 'Sundial' is a multilayered project of original contemporary classical works, addressing everyday social problems, dilemmas and concerns. Ideas, such as 'muteness', 'running out of time', 'revenge', are explored in different pieces of music, as a response to the unexpected economical and psychological pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Working closely with CHROMA Ensemble proved that any new emerging composer should engage with these kinds of activities.’ He reflects on how this project enabled him to practice the skills he learnt in his four years at Royal Holloway.  'As a result,' he states, 'I strongly believe that universities should encourage and prioritise more collaborations between professionals and music students.'

His advice for students thinking about a career in his industry is to ‘grab any opportunity that you can find, but most importantly, to create your own opportunities as well. I think these can be described with three words: imagination, boldness, and hard work.’

Coming to Royal Holloway as an international student was ‘intimidating in many ways’, Kyriakos states. However, the ‘academic curriculum and the extra-curricular activities', alongside his personal persistence, opened doors he never thought imaginable.

To listen to Sundial, please visit the playlist here.