Alexander Cann (b.2003) is a London-based composer interested in decay, circularity, and microtonal harmony. He is a recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied with Laurence Crane and Hollie Harding.
Initially trained in the rock and jazz traditions before turning to classical music, Alex’s work incorporates elements from a wide array of styles and influences, with a particular focus on: Plainsound’s just intonation work, British and Atlantic-Canadian folk music, John Cage and the wandelweiser composers, neo-minimalism, and the recent British metamodern turn. Recent work includes a catalogue of deep-sea creatures set in 31 equal temperament for EXUADI, a 50-minute dialogue with unfinished Beethoven pieces for small ensemble and mudlarked percussion, and a new work for the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra.
Alex has worked with performers and ensembles including EXAUDI, the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Mira Benjamin, Ben Smith, members of the Guildhall Studio Orchestra, and Fergus Butt, among others. His music has been conducted by Jack Sheen, Darren Bloom and Jacob Cavendish. Experiments in interdisciplinary work include workshops led by Elaine Mitchner and a collaboration with the London Contemporary Dance School.
Since Autumn 2024, Alex has been a co-curator of the Guildhall New Music Society. As part of NMS, he has developed and produced student concerts that freely cross genre and format categories, from installation to untrained vocal ensemble to science-themed concerts.
Alex has also been a performer in the new music scene, participating within NMS in the London Contemporary Music Festival as part of the Orchestra of Futurist Noise Intoners. As part of the Laurence Crane Experimental Music Workshop, he has performed in the Music We’d Like to Hear concert series, helping to bring underperformed experimental music to life. Outside of new music, Alex leads a double life as a guitarist in a ceilidh band.
Alexander Cann Composer 