Beamish, Sally (1956– )

English composer and viola player. She studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and with Lennox Berkeley. She played viola in various London ensembles. In 1989 she became resident in Scotland, cofounding the Chamber Group of Scotland, after which she received a steady stream of commissions; she often writes for non-professional forces. Recent works include a cello concerto (1997) and The Flight of the Eagle, a children's introduction to the woodwind instruments of the orchestra.

Works Orchestral Symphony No. 1 (1992); Tam Lin, oboe concerto (1992); Concerto Grosso for strings (1993); viola concerto (1995); cello concerto (1997); Symphony No. 2 (1998).

Music theatre Ease (1993); Monster, a ‘psychodrama’ produced in collaboration with writer Janice Galloway.

Chamber The Caledonian Road for chamber orchestra (1998) and other chamber music.

Other Magnificat for soprano, mezzo, and ensemble (1992).