Clive Osgood
 | This article includes a list of general references but lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2026) |
Clive Osgood | |
|---|---|
| Born | Portsmouth, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Classical, Choral, Sacred |
| Occupations | Composer, organist, accompanist, music educator |
| Instruments | Organ, Piano |
| Years active | 2000s–present |
| Website | cliveosgood |
Clive Osgood is a British classical composer, organist, accompanist, and music educator. He serves as Director of Music and organist at St Bartholomew's Parish Church in Haslemere and teaches A-level music at Reeds School in Cobham. Osgood's compositions have been featured in the Convivium Records catalogue.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Osgood was born in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. He attended St John's College, Southsea. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Bangor University, followed by a Master of Arts in musicology from Cardiff University. After completing teacher training in London, he served as an organ scholar at Salisbury Cathedral for a year. He obtained a second master's degree in composition from the University of Surrey.[4]
Career
[edit]Osgood's compositional output encompasses choral works, orchestral pieces, and chamber music. A significant proportion of his work comprises sacred choral music due to his long-standing engagement with liturgical traditions. His musical language is classically structured but incorporates modern harmonic idioms and rhythmic patterns drawn from jazz and Latin American music.[5]
His stage works include A Midsummer Night's Dream (2017), a music drama for soloists, choir, and strings, and The Beggar's Opera (2019), scored for soloists, choir, strings, and harpsichord; both were premiered locally in Haslemere.
Osgood was the winner of the 2024 Bach Choir Carol Competition. His Stabat Mater was featured in Gramophone magazine in May 2025,[6] and his English Folk Songs, Chamber Works, and Magnificat were reviewed in BBC Music Magazine.[7][8][9] Both works received critical attention for their harmonic inventiveness and emotional depth.[10] MusicWeb International described Osgood's Stabat Mater as pastoral and flowing, noting its discreet orchestration and lyrical qualities.[11]
A track from Osgood's album Clive Osgood: Christmas Collection, performed by Polyphony, accompanied by the Britten Symphonia and conducted by Stephen Layton, was featured as Gramophone's 'Video of the Day' on 8 December 2025. On 15 January 2026, a track from Osgood's album Clive Osgood: English Folk Songs, sung by Polyphony, accompanied by Britten Symphonia and conducted by Stephen Layton, was highlighted on the BBC Radio 3 programme Essential Classics as the playlister track, which invites listener suggestions for similar music.
Discography
[edit]Choral Works
[edit]- Sacred Choral Music – Excelsis; London Mozart Players; Robert Lewis (2019)[10][12]
- Magnificat – Excelsis; Amy Carson; London Mozart Players; Robert Lewis (2024)[13]
- Stabat Mater – The Choir of Royal Holloway; London Mozart Players; Jack Liebeck; Grace Davidson; Mark Wilde; Julian Empett; Rupert Gough (2025)[14]
- English Folk Songs – Polyphony; Britten Sinfonia; Stephen Layton (2025)
- Christmas Collection - Polyphony; Britten Synfonia; Stephen Layton (2025)
Vocal Ensemble Works
[edit]- Three Shakespeare Songs – Sofia Vokalensemble; Bengt Ollen (2024)
Chamber Music
[edit]- Chamber Music – Tippett Quartet; Lisa Friend; Lynn Arnold (2024)[15]
Personal life
[edit]Osgood is married to Leanne and has two children. He resides in the vicinity of Haslemere, Surrey.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ↑ "An early musical Christmas for Haslemere". Farnham Herald. 2024-12-10. Archived from the original on 2025-10-13. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ "Choir and acclaimed composer release a CD". Farnham Herald. 2024-06-05. Archived from the original on 2025-03-24. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ Classic, Brought to you byABC (2024-04-29). "New Releases: To the Muse, Mermaids and Magnificat". ABC listen. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ Cooter, Mike. "Clive Osgood, classical composer and musician from Haslemere". Retrieved 2026-07-22.
- ↑ "Choir and acclaimed composer release a CD". Haslemere Herald. 2024-06-05. Archived from the original on 2025-07-12. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ Boyd, Thomas (2025-03-07). "Video of the Day: Rupert Gough conducts Clive Osgood's 'O Quam Tristis'". Gramophone. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ Balin, Terry. 2025. "Clive Osgood: English Folksongs (CR105)." BBC Music Magazine, June 13, 2025.
- ↑ Beek, Michael. 2024. "Clive Osgood: Chamber Works (CR096)." BBC Music Magazine, November 15, 2024.
- ↑ Smith, Charlotte. 2024. "Clive Osgood: Magnificat (CR093)." BBC Music Magazine, May 16, 2024.
- 1 2 Hugill, Planet. "Clive Osgood: Sacred Choral Music". Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ Slater, Laurence (2025-03-20). "Osgood: Stabat Mater (Convivium)". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ "Review: Clive Osgood's Sacred Choral Music - Clive Osgood, Excelsis, London Mozart Players | Cross Rhythms". www.crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ "Reviews June 2024". RSCM. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ "Clive Osgood: Stabat Mater". Gramophone. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ "Premiere for Haslemere Composer". This is Haslemere. Retrieved 2026-06-10.