Ilan is a British film composer who has established himself as an exciting young talent in the world of film music. Born in London into a musical family, Ilan grew up playing violin and later took up playing guitar in bands. He studied Music and English literature at Leeds University, during which time he also worked with film composer Ed Shearmur learning first-hand the technique of film composition. After graduating, he went on to work with other film composers such as Michael Kamen and Hans Zimmer. At this time Ilan began scoring his own projects, and his talent for creating cinematic music on a limited budget soon gained him recognition within the film industry.
Striking events as miners’ struggle is commemorated 
Members of the Music School took part in a range of productions that recalled the conclusion of a bitter industrial battle 25 years ago The Miners’ Strike of 1984/5 left wounds on the political and social landscape as the older industrial heart of the UK found locked horns with the Thatcher government of the period.
The 25th anniversary of the conclusion of that bitter and historic conflict was celebrated in a various ways by members of the School of Music in March when a conference and performances were staged at Leeds University.
Prof. Derek Scott, Head of School, provided the musical accompaniment when the Barnsley based poet Ian Macmillan was among the contributors to a poetry workshop which drew on song, verse, photographs and miners’ memories.
Macmillan also wrote the libretto for a larger musical work, Songs at Year’s End, a commemoration in words and music of the dispute, much of which centred on the industry’s heartland of South and West Yorkshire. The poet’s collaborating composer was Hugh Mankivell.
Leeds Music students contributed, too, to this world premiere for brass band, choir and soloists. The performance was given at the Howard Assembly rooms and was a commission by the DARE project, the collaboration between Opera North and the University of Leeds.
An accompanying campus conference, Digging the Seams, was also staged and Simon Warner, from the Music department, hosted a special screening of a documentary film The Beat is the Law, which recalled Sheffield’s part in the strike with particular reference to music and musicians.
A discussion, featuring film-maker Eve Wood and rock musicians Russell Senior of Pulp, from Sheffield, and John Hyatt of the Leeds act the Three Johns, followed.
Date Published: 8 June 2010
Keywords: Derek Scott, Ian Macmillan, Simon Warner, Miners’ Strike, Opera North
Keywords: Derek Scott, Ian Macmillan, Simon Warner, Miners’ Strike, Opera North
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