Since the early 1960s he has been Professor of Composition at the Royal
College of Music in London, of which he is a Fellow.
Began career as conductor and composer of ballet scores, notably "Alice in Wonderland" (1953), which has had many revivals in USA and Europe.
Has composed and conducted a wide range of music from TV scores to concert works for orchestras, wind and brass bands, and choirs.
Has won two Ivor Novello Awards: "Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo", a
choral work sung world-wide, staged as a ballet and filmed as an
animated cartoon Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo (1972),
and _Lillie(1978)(TV)_, thirteen-part series on the life of Edwardian
actress Lillie Langtry.
Awarded the Nino Rota Prize of Italy in 2002, and the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Arts First-Class in 2007.