Frederick Viner is a multi award-winning composer and pianist based in York. He studied at the University of York (BA 2016) and University of Oxford (MSt 2017). After spending two years as Eton College Composer in Residence, he returned to York to complete his PhD. In addition to composing, he keeps up a busy schedule teaching at York and Hull Universities, and Yarm School.
Viner’s music has received many accolades. In 2015, whilst an undergraduate at the University of York, his Bagatelle won the Ebor Organ Prize and was published by Banks in the Ebor Organ Album – Seven Pieces for Seven Decades. In 2016 Viner was awarded first prize in the Royal Northern Sinfonia’s Mozart’s of Tomorrow competition for Sleeping Gomatz, which the judging panel described as ‘ravishing’ and ‘constantly engaging’.
After graduating from York with distinction, he was appointed Artist in Residence with Sage Gateshead’s Young Sinfonia and was also commissioned to write the closing piece for the Brundibár Arts Festival. In 2017, during his time in Oxford, Viner won first prize in William Howard’s Love Song Composing Competition with Herz an Herz, chosen from 152 compositions submitted anonymously from 61 countries. In 2017 he was also awarded The Henfrey Composition Prize for Bells Wrung, as well as the prestigious National Centre for Early Music Young Composers Award for Prayer from Afar, which was performed at Bridgewater Hall by the Tallis Scholars and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
In 2018 he was commissioned by Choir & Organ Magazine, Orchestra for the Earth, Borough New Music, Northern Praeclassica and pianist Jakob Fichert. In 2019 his music was performed by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra, the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, the Gromoglasova Piano Duo and internationally renowned organist David Goode. In 2020 he was awarded the STR Music Composition Prize (sponsored by Sean Rourke) for his piece The Annunciation, as well as the LeFanu Composition Prize for his Etude I: Mirie it is. Between 2020-21, his piano work ‘Something She’d Like’ was performed worldwide – in the UK, Germany, Turkey, Austria and Thailand – by world-class pianists including Paul Barton and Vadim Chaimovich.
Recently, his Youtube channel (which features eduational videos and compositions) passed 2 million views and 25 thousand subscribers. In 2024, five of his piano pieces were featured in the ABRSM performance grade syllabus, and five of his ukulele works were included in the new ABRSM ukulele medals book.
Frederick Viner | Composer 