Becky McGlade signs with Oxford University Press

Composer Becky McGlade has signed a long-term global publishing agreement with Oxford University Press, the publisher has announced.

Becky McGlade first published with OUP in Spring 2020 with choral pieces My beloved spake, A spotless Rose, and Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life, and we are delighted to be formalising an agreement with her to develop our relationship further. We look forward to the publication of the next piece—My song is love unknown—in February, with more to follow in the summer.

Living and working in her native Cornwall, Becky McGlade leads a busy life as a composer, cellist, and teacher. Most of her compositions are choral, many of which draw inspiration from her Christian faith. Her works include psalm settings, carols, and settings of other biblical and secular texts, as well as solo songs. Recent commissions include a carol for York Minster’s Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, and a secular work for the Eden Project, Cornwall. The professional chamber choir Sonoro and the Choir of Truro Cathedral have both recorded her music for commercial release.

On signing with OUP, Becky McGlade writes:

‘I am delighted and honoured to be signing with OUP. The prospect of a partnership with one of the world’s most prestigious publishing houses is so exciting and I feel both privileged and humbled to be joining a group of composers for whom I have immense admiration and respect. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity and very much look forward to working alongside the wonderful team at OUP!’

Rachel Lindley, OUP’s Director of Music Publishing, comments:

‘It is fantastic to have this opportunity to develop our relationship with Becky and share her music with choral communities worldwide. Her writing refreshes our understanding of familiar texts, and its integrity and clarity encourages contemplation and reflection. In a time when too much music is silenced, we look forward to choirs having the opportunity to reunite and are excited for the part Becky’s music will play in that return.’

Robyn Elton, OUP Commissioning Editor, comments:

‘It’s been a great pleasure to work closely with Becky over the past couple of years, and I am thrilled to be in a position to develop that relationship further. Becky has such a distinctive compositional voice, and she brings something new and wonderfully surprising to each setting. Her music expresses feelings that go beyond the written or spoken word and, in doing so, enables us to make better sense of the world around us—something we all need at present.’