Calum Carswell

Calum Carswell is a Scottish composer of contemporary classical music. He completed his PhD and Masters whilst studying under the royal composer Paul Mealor at the University of Aberdeen, where he was awarded the Ogston and Paul Mealor compositional scholarships. Calum also featured on the critically acclaimed New Choral Voices Vol.3 album, he held the post of Composer-in-Residence for the 300-year-old choir of St Paul’s Birmingham, and he composed the soundtrack for the BBC Four animation project Headless Population. His compositional voice seeks to elicit a deep sense of beauty from listeners by shaping rich timbres that embody emotional depth, which critics have described as “mystic and rather seductive.” As a neurodivergent, Calum’s compositional craft stands out, offering the listener a unique perspective of the world around them.

From his undergraduate studies at the London School of Theology to this day, Calum has played a pioneering role in his field of compositionally-based research, culminating in a project concerning the introduction and composition of choral music within Charismatic Evangelical churches. Not only has his compositional research been published in peer-review journals and presented at academic conferences, but it has achieved wide public engagement through national radio interviews and Calum’s authorship of opinion articles in publications. Alongside his research, Calum has established and conducted numerous choirs and ensembles. His music has been performed by choirs, orchestras, and ensembles across the UK and abroad, including commissions for the WWI Centenary Requiem at St Paul’s Birmingham, the London School of Theology Graduation Service, and the Scottish Sound Festival.

Calum has spent time living in many places across the UK and Australia. He and his husband currently live in Aberdeen (Scotland) with their dog, Charlie.