‘McDowall’s work has qualities that include a communicative gift that is very rare in modern music, a composer well worth seeking out; she is very gifted, and always knows exactly what she is doing, and why.’

GRAMOPHONE

‘Cecilia McDowall is one of the leading choral and vocal composers of her generation.’

MUSICAL OPINION

‘Cecilia McDowall’s music constantly tweaks the ear with her range of spicy rhythms and colours, then suddenly produces a highly atmospheric and grippingly expressive interlude which is just as compelling.’
GRAMOPHONE

‘Cecilia McDowall is one of the leading choral and vocal composers of her generation.’

MUSICAL OPINION

CECILIA McDOWALL

‘Cecilia McDowall is another of the new generation of highly communicative musicians who favours writing which, without being in any way facile, is brightly cogent, freshly witty and expressive in its own right.’
GRAMOPHONE
‘The life-affirming, restorative strength of her direct and unaffected speech is fully communicated in these carefully prepared, joyous performances.’
TEMPO
Read More

FEATURED WORKS

cover of score for Songs of the North
Read More
Read More
Read More

EVENTS

Forthcoming Concerts

10 October 2026 | A Fancy of Folksongs

Location: St. Paul’s Church Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1NH, UK

17 October 2026 | Leith Hill Festival | Come and Sing Day | In memory of Clarissa

Location: St Martin’s Church, Dorking, Surrey, UK

17 October 2026 | Bradford Festival Choral Society | Come and Sing

Location: Titus Salt School, West Yorkshire, UK

17 October 2026 | Suffolk Chamber Choir | Throne of Beauty

Location: St Margaret's Church, Ipswich, IP4 2BE, UK
View All

FEATURED RECORDING

Of the Da Vinci Requiem, The Times writes: ‘There is much sparkling and shimmering in McDowall’s writing. Cadences quiver and shiver unresolved, then vaporise as though overcome by their mysteriousness. The most persuasive historical gesture is in the Lux aeterna as two violins spiral upwards in Monteverdian musical calligraphy’.
.

★★★★★ ‘McDowall’s Da Vinci Requiem is a masterpiece. The performance here is compelling and 70 Degrees below Zero forms a perfect musical coupling … especially in such a fine performance as this …The performances are uniformly excellent, as is the presentation of this important release.’
THE ORGAN

★★★★★ ‘For many years now Cecilia McDowall has occupied a special place in the UK’s choral scene. With an exceptional ability for finding texts – sometimes unexpected texts – for musical setting, McDowall’s individual way with melody wedded to an often intriguing harmonic vocabulary has made her music many friends.’
CHOIR AND ORGAN

‘The Da Vinci Requiem is musically engaging but also, I reckon, a lot of fun to sing.’
THE ARTS DESK

Read More

LATEST NEWS

OUP CATALOGUE

‘During the past few years the music of this British composer has been heard more and more, and her output has impressed audiences, players and critics alike. It deserves to.’

‘During the past few years the music of this British composer has been heard more and more, and her output has impressed audiences, players and critics alike. It deserves to.’

‘She constantly tweaks the ear with her range of spicy rhythms and colours then suddenly produces a highly atmospheric and grippingly expressive interlude which is just as compelling.’
GRAMOPHONE

‘She constantly tweaks the ear with her range of spicy rhythms and colours then suddenly produces a highly atmospheric and grippingly expressive interlude which is just as compelling.’
GRAMOPHONE

READ MORE