The Choral Signature Series was launched in Summer 2009, presenting new or recently composed choral works written by a diverse and eclectic selection of composers, including Howard Goodall, Morten Lauridsen, Jonathan Dove and Alexander L’Estrange. Containing both lighter and more challenging works, the series has continued to grow and this Summer sees the introduction of two new composers to the Faber Music catalogue; Margaret Rizza and David Bednall.

Margaret Rizza studied at the Royal College of Music, and at the National School of Opera, London, and continued her training in Siena and Rome, Italy. Margaret sang professionally for 25 years, under the name of Margaret Lensky, and has sung at many of the leading operatic venues, under such conductors as Benjamin Britten, Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein. She then went on to teach singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 1977 to 1994. She was closely involved with Dartington International Summer School giving masterclasses and vocal workshops over many years. Margaret began composing in 1997, her contemplative choral music being widely acclaimed not only in the UK but also abroad. She has given many seminars and conferences featuring her music in the USA, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Ireland as well as leading many choral and vocal workshops in this country. It was in 2007 that Margaret was commissioned by Harry Christophers to write a choral composition for The Sixteen. For her this resulted in a new idiom in writing – that of ‘Classical Contemporary’.

David Bednall is a busy composer and organist, combining an extensive freelance career with the position of Sub Organist at Bristol Cathedral, PhD Studies in Composition with Professor John Pickard at Bristol University and the Directorship of The University Singers. He studied with Dr. Naji Hakim and David Briggs and was Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral. David was Organ Scholar at Queen’s College, Oxford and then at Gloucester Cathedral. He also spent periods there as Acting Director of Music and Acting Assistant Organist and was closely involved with the Three Choirs Festival. He won prizes in Improvisation and Performance at the examination for Fellow of The Royal College of Organists and has given recitals at La Trinité, Paris, and many English Cathedrals. In June 2008 he gave a recital at Notre-Dame de Paris.
He is active as a composer and the CD of his choral music Hail, gladdening light with Wells Cathedral Choir under Matthew Owens was Gramophone Editor’s Choice. A number of his choral works have been broadcast on Radio 3 and 4. Recent work has included Missa Sancti Pauli commissioned by St Paul’s Cathedral for the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music and commissions for the new music wells 68 – 08 festival. In November 2008 his Requiem was premiered in St James’s Church, Spanish Place with St Mary’s School, Calne, Edward Whiting (Director) and Philip Dukes (Viola) and was recently given its US Premiere in St Mary The Virgin, Times Square, New York. This has been recorded by these forces and released on Regent Records to great critical acclaim. In addition Wells Cathedral Choir has just released a further recording of his choral music on Regent entitled Flame Celestial. All four of the works publishing this year are available on the Flame Celestial recording.