Canadian composer Lorna Paterson has a varied career as a piano teacher, artistic director, musical director, clinician, adjudicator, examiner, chamber musician and composer.  She has an MMus, BMus (with distinction), LMus (Western Board), and ARCT.

Lorna taught piano at the Langley Community Music School, Medicine Hat College, Victoria Conservatory of Music, and Victoria Piano summer School. She served as Artistic Director at the Kelowna Community Music School and Chamber Music Kelowna for many years. The Lorna Paterson Award for Outstanding Composition was established by the Kelowna Community Music School to honour her service as Artistic Director. It is awarded annually to a student of the School.

Lorna specializes in composing original music that is contemporary, engaging, and grade appropriate. For over 25 years, her compositions have been selected for the Royal Conservatory of Music and Conservatory Canada Piano Syllabi. The Frederick Harris Music Company Ltd.  published five of Lorna’s piano albums: Pianimals, Safari Suite, Just a Second! and duet albums Too Cool and Nothing Up My Sleeve. These works are now published in the Contemporary Piano Collection Volume 1 and Volume 2 by Lorna Paterson.

Lorna’s works have been featured at CFMTA Canada Music Week Recitals, Victoria Conservatory of Music and Victoria Piano Summer School events, Contemporary Showcase Edmonton and more. Her music has been selected for the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects Piano Syllabus, BC Conservatory of Music Piano Syllabus, Association of Canadian Women Composers Catalogue, CFMTA Diamond Jubilee Piano Collection, and various Festival Syllabi across Canada and the USA.

Lorna’s goal as a pedagogical composer is to motivate students with music that excites them, moves them, challenges them, and rewards them. Her newest publication, Piano Dreams features music that sparks the imaginations of elementary level students.  Lorna lives in Surrey, British Columbia, where she continues to enjoy her work as a composer.

Reviews

“Interesting and original writing”
– The American Music Teacher

“Attractive and refreshing recital selections”
– Clavier Magazine

“An exhilarating piece to listen to or play”
– Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association

“I am enchanted with her wit and sensitivity to sonorities”
–  Dr. Dale Reubart, composer

“Wonderful character sketches”
– Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association

“Intermediate students will enjoy these four cool duets.  The two parts are equally challenging and entertaining.”
– Clavier Magazine

“As a pedagogical composer she has the enviable ability to write music which is attractive to students, well-graded as to their abilities, and yet of the 20-21st century.”
– Winifred Scott Wood, past Vice-Principal Emerita, Victoria Conservatory of Music