In 1995 a concert was held for him at the RNCM in celebration of his music. It comprised thirty-two musicians, forty singers and three conductors. Included were the Apollo Saxophone Quartet and the Royal Northern College of Music Big Band. An interview about the concert was conducted with Paul on Radio 3. 

Paul has been since 1986 the Composer in Residence at the annual Standish Festival. For many years he was the Composer in Residence at the Library Theatre in Manchester. In 1999 he formed the Manchester Guitar Orchestra for the Halle Concerts Society Education department, and their first performance was at the Bridgewater Hall. He is a past member of the music advisory panel for NWAA. A past Bafta Judge for music section awards and a past judge for the festival for British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles. He has held many workshops and masterclasses in and around the north west.

COMPOSITIONS

SOUNDSCAPE - Funded by the North West Arts Board, inspired by the work of artist Colin Johnson.
For flute, oboe, harpsichord/piano, guitar/mandolin.

STEAM - Commissioned by the GMC to form part of the Great Railway Exposition.
For flute, oboe, piano, guitar/mandolin and speaker.

SONATA FOR SOLO GUITAR - A large scale solo guitar work premiered by Neil Smith at the Purcell Room,London.

THE LION AND THE DRAGON - A suite for Jazz Orchestra, tape, voice and chinese zither. Based on impressions of a visit to Hong Kong with Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra.

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL - Based on a cyle of poems by Stevie Smith.
For eleven musicians and speaker.

ORIANA - Commissioned by the Oriana Choir. Texts by Elizabethan poets and John Bennet's Triumph of Oriana.
For choir and orchestra.

TURNPIKE SONATA - Commissioned by Wigan MBC to launch a chamber music series at the Turnpike Centre.
For flute, oboe, piano/mandolin.

PLANTAGENET VARIATIONS - Commissioned by the Orchestra of the Mill and premiered at the Standish Festival.
For chamber orchestra.

EARTHSONGS - Commissioned by Bury MBC.
For solo saxophone, chamber orchestra, small choir and rhythm section.

SONGBOOK - Commissioned by Neil Smith for solo guitar.

A SMALL DREAM OF A DANCE - Commissioned by the Apollo Saxophone Quartet. An African inspired piece. Originally released on the ASQ album 'Bow Out' then re-released on 'Hot Lipped' by the Kintamarni Saxophone Quartet.

AFRICANA - A concerto for two marimbas.

CHIONI - Commissioned by Live Music Now, and premiered at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.
For oboe trio.

SCENES FROM A CARNIVAL - Commissioned by the Apollo Saxophone Quartet. Premiered at the Royal Northern College of Music.
For saxophone quartet and tape.

ALL ABOUT LIONS - Commissioned by Manchester Cathedral.
For choir and brass band.

GAIA - Commissioned by the Manchester Craft Centre. Composed withy acoustical and architectural qualities of the venue in mind. It is included on the Apollo Saxophone Quartet's cd 'Bow Out.'

ESSAY ON THE NAME CHARLIE 'BIRD' PARKER - For the Apollo Saxophone Quartet. Premiered at the Standish Festival.

THE BESTIARY - A four movement suite for jazz orchestra. The piece was performed in its entirety at Paul's RNCM concert. The second movement 'The Snake' was the winner of the Marty Paich Award in 1993 and was subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio.

A CHORUS OF INNER VOICES - Commissioned by the Apollo Saxophone Quartet and premiered on their tour of Japan. Broadcast on Radio 3.
Inspried by three traditional japanese poems.

FANFARE - ALL LIT UP! - Commissioned by the Manchester Craft Centre for the switching on ceremony at the centre. Broadcast on Radio 3.

TAPESTRY - A large scale virtuoso work composed for the mandolin player Alison Stephens and harpist Lauren Scott. 
In four movements. Based on the book 'The Saxon Tapestry' by Sile Rice. The movement 'A Full Moon Rising Red' received very good reviews when it was played at the RNCM, by Classical Guitar Magazine in 2004.
The album Tapestry, which contained the full thirty-two minute, four movement suite, was also well reviewed on Amazon.co.uk in 2004. Released on Black Box label.

THRENODY, SONG FOR SARAJEVO - A composition written at the height of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. It was performed at my concert at the RNCM.
It was originally commissioned by the Hildegarde Ensemble.
For violin, piano, clarinet, guitar and percussion.

SPELLS, SIGILS AND TALISMANS - Commissioned and performed by Simone Rebello for her 1995 album.

SOLILOQUY FOR TIM (AN URBAN DREAM) Composed for Tim Redpath.
For solo saxophone.

THE BIG EASY - Echoes of New orleans, for big band.

A CHORUS OF INNER VOICES II - Commissioned by the Tubalate Quartet and performed live on Radio 3.

TOWARDS THE RISING SUN - Commissioned by Manchester City Council and premiered at the Bridgewater Hall as part of the BASBWE concert.
For wind band.

CAPTAIN CORELLI - Composed for mandolin player Alison Stephens.
A sonatina for solo mandolin.

SHOUTING ON SWAN STREET - Commissioned by the Band on the Wall. An hour long piece for jazz orchestra, off stage band and gospel choir. This was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Band on the Wall. It was premiered at the Band on the Wall and then performed at the Bridgewater Hall. It received an outstanding review in the Manchester Evening News.

TUBAFICATION - Composed for Tubalate. This became the test piece for the 2002 International Federation of Tubists Congress in USA.

RHAPSODY FOR DUKE (Duke Ellington) - Commissioned by members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

RHAPSODY FOR FRANK (FRANK ZAPPA) Composed for the Halle's Manchester Guitar Orchestra.

SPIRIT OF CHANGE - Commissioned by the Halle's Education Department.

BEYOND THE RAINBOW'S END - Composed for the Halle's Manchester Guitar Orchestdra.

NIGHT TRIPPER - Commissioned by Burnley Jazz Summer School for their contemporary jazz project.

KINTAMARNI - Commissioned by the Kintamarni Saxophone Quartet. This piece was loosely based on Gamelan. It was first performed at the RNCM. It was sponsored by the North West Arts Board. This was Paul's eighth quartet.

JUEGO DE PASION - Commissioned by the Apollo Saxophone Quartet. This was performed on their UK tour. The piece was an homage to Astor Piazolla.

LOUISIANA - A concerto for saxophone quartet and virtual ensemble.

DOVESTONE - A concerto for mandolin and strings. For the mandolin player Alison Stephens.

RAINSONG - For International concert pianist Craig Ogden.
A concerto for guitar and orchestra.

LULLABY FOR STANLEY - A piece for solo instrument. Composed for the newborn son of Saxophonist Andy Scott and harpist Lauren Scott.

Completed six virtuoso arrangements of jazz standards for classical guitar. For the new album of classical guitarist Craig Ogden.

2006 - Completed a cd of compositions of traditional seychelloise sega music.

Community and/or education projects include:

THE MOON AND THE FIREBIRD, a large scale multi media piece for mixed instrumental ensemble, including small choir, solo voices, actors, chinese zither and recorded sounds. Based on ancient poems by Li Po and Tu Fu. The project involved the whole of Leigh College Music Department with students also from the drama department.

RAIN, A school project based on ' Monsoon' wherein the work was devised over a five week period culminating in studio recording sessions. It was loosely based on gamelan.

COMING HOME, A community and music theatre piece set around a psychiatric hospital in Prestwich, Manchester. Set in two time zones. This was at the first ever Prestwich and Whitefield Arts Festival. It involved people from all parts of the community. It was performed with professional musicians.

EARTHRITES, A large scale music and theatre piece which celebrated, in words and music, the town of Burnley, its past, present and future. It involved five schools, Burnley Brass Band and the South Pennine Singers.
It was commissioned by Burnley Metropolitan Council.
This project was a winner of a P.R.S. Education Award.

JACK IN THE GREEN, A dance and mime performance, celebrating the mythological life-death-renewal continuum of Jack in the Green. The green man of pagan folklore. This project involved a large body of students from Bury College, from the music, drama and visual arts departments. It was over a six week period, culminating in a public performance.
it was commissioned by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council.

THE BRANDY OF THE DAMNED - A commkunity play with music, to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Musicians' Union. It was part of the Musicians' Union centennial celebrations and an event for the Manchester City of Drama celebrations.
It was commissioned by Salford Open Theatre.

THE MONKEY RUN - Music commissioned for a large scale outdoor community theatre piece. It directly involved the people of Blidworth and Rainworth. I was both composeer and musical director. It was put together by the Western Area Arts Project along with the New Perspective Theatre Company. It was funded and supported by BT, East Midlands Arts Board, North Nottinghamshire Rural Projects Fund and Nottinghamshire County Council Rural Action.

THE MEDIA MAGIC CARPET RIDE - Composed and arranged music for The Grassington Festival Concert 'Children of the Dales.' This was with professional musicians.

Arrangement of the brass section for music 'Let's Get it On' by Red Venom, for the blockbuster movie 'Miss Congeniality.' 

Paul is also an accomplished musician, playing guitar, bass guitar and mandolin. 

Some of Paul's music is available through Lauren Scott at Astute Music. www.astute-music.com