Photo: Carmen Cheung
Christopher Mayo (b. 1980) is a Toronto-based composer of orchestral, chamber, vocal and electronic music. His work, variously described as “cogent, haunting and…desperately poignant” (The Times) and “a steampunk collection of gnarly machine-like noises, flashy timbres, and explosive rhythms” (Classical Voice North America), is characterized by its distinctive rhythmic language and wide range of diverse and eclectic inspirations.
Christopher’s works have been commissioned and performed by leading ensembles worldwide, including London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, London Sinfonietta, Crash Ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, Aurora Orchestra, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Ensemble contemporain de Montreal and Manchester Camerata where he was the Composer-in-Residence from 2012-13. His music has been conducted by artists such as Susanna Mälkki, François-Xavier Roth, Nicholas Collon and Bramwell Tovey. He has received performances at festivals including the Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Nuit Blanche Toronto, and the Marrakech Biennale.
Also noted for his work as a versatile orchestrator and arranger, Christopher has collaborated with artists including Grammy-nominated pop singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen, R&B duo DVSN, throat-singer Tanya Tagaq, DJ King Britt, folk rock band Whitehorse, electronic artist Matthew Herbert and drum and bass star Goldie among others.
Christopher’s music has been commercially recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra on their LSO Live label as well as by Aurora Orchestra for NMC Recordings. Christopher’s music has been widely broadcast on television and radio including multiple broadcasts on BBC 1 Television, BBC Radio 3 and CBC Radio 2.
Christopher is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Sonic Arts, Composition, and Music Theory at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.