Roland Perrin

Born in New York City and now resident in London, Roland Perrin has gained a reputation both as a jazz and world music composer/pianist and a sought after music educator.
As a composer Roland has made a mark in a number of large-scale works combining jazz, classical and world music musicians.

His commissions include:

‘Rio Amazonas’  - a choral symphony for string orchestra, bass clarinet/flute, harp, jazz trio, mixed choir, and children’s choir. A celebration and plea for the preservation of the natural world.
(Premiere: Cadogan Hall, London 2017.)  

‘Lansky: The Mob’s Money Man’ – a music drama for jazz singer/actress, narrator, 11- piece band and mixed choir. Based on the life of 1930’s gangster Meyer Lansky.
(Premiere: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 2015.)

‘Hidden (The Children of the Holocaust)’: Music constructed around recordings of holocaust survivors’ memories. For piano, harp, clarinet, trumpet and cello. (Premiere: Charlton House, London 2018.)

‘songs from the cage’ – for choir and jazz big band, based on poetry by Charles Bukowski. (Premiere: Barbican Centre 2003.) 

As a pianist he has toured and recorded with musicians from far and wide including South Africa, Cuba, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Colombia and Congo. 

He is a senior lecturer at the cutting edge London College of Contemporary Music where he has taught many students who have gone on to make a living in a wide variety of musical professions.

In January 2020 he published ‘Real Ear Training’ (Faber Music), a ground- breaking method to develop aural skills.