A big project for the Primrose Piano Quartet centres around a lesser-known Air by Robert Burns to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. The Quartet have asked a whole host of well-known composers to each contribute a variation to the Air.

So far the line-up includes Sally Beamish, John Casken, Jacques Cohen, Peter Fribbins, Piers Hellawell, Robin Ireland, Francis Pott, Stephen Goss and Joe Cutler.

The work was recorded for the Meridian label in September 09, with the world première following in November 09 and the London première at Kings Place on February 21, 2010.

The Quartet will be offering the piece as part of their educational work, with students and amateur composers being invited to contribute a variation.

Thom was born in Manchester in 1981 and studied composition at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School and with the National Youth Orchestra of GB. In 1998 he participated in the BBC Young Composer Workshop on BBC television and has since had work performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on Radio 3, at the Cheltenham Music, York Late Music and Edinburgh Festivals. He wrote the television titles music for BBC Young Musician and the recent feature film "Release". Thom works as an anaesthetist in Bristol.

In addition to the recent performance at Kings Place London, we have performed his variation at the Sound Festival in Scotland.