Bio

Lorna Paterson’s academic credentials include: BMus (with distinction) and MMus degrees, majoring in piano performance, as well as LMus (Western Board) and ARCT diplomas. Her principal teacher was Dr. Robin Wood.

Lorna’s varied career includes roles as a piano teacher at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Victoria Piano Summer School, Medicine Hat College and Langley Community Music School.  Most recently, she taught at the Kelowna Community Music School, where she soon became Artistic Director.  Simultaneously, Lorna assumed the role of Artistic Director for Chamber Music Kelowna.  She worked as a clinician and adjudicator at music festivals and scholarship auditions, and performed chamber music with a variety of musicians.

Her keen interest in composing pedagogical piano music blossomed when she started composing pieces for her own young children to play.  Lorna’s works were later published by The Frederick Harris Music Co. Ltd. in five solo and duet piano albums.  These are now available as individual pieces on sheetmusicplus.com and sheetmusicdirect.com and through a link on her website.  One of her pieces, “Mobilé” was selected by the CFMTA for inclusion in the Diamond Jubilee Collection published by Waterloo Music. Lorna also has works published by Palliser Music Publishing Ltd.  Her works are included in the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects Piano Syllabus and various festival syllabi.  Many of Lorna’s pieces have been selected for the Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Syllabus for over 25 years, including in the new 2022 Syllabus.  She was Featured Composer at the Victoria Piano Summer School and a number of Canada Music Week and Contemporary Showcase concerts in BC and Alberta.  Her pieces are performed for exams and in festivals and recitals across Canada and the USA.

Lorna specializes in composing original and level-appropriate piano music for students.  Her goal is to motivate students with music that excites and moves them, challenges and rewards them.  She often mixes traditional with contemporary harmonies, rhythms and techniques, offering a broad range to engage both students and teachers.  Her writing style varies from lyrical and expressive to rhythmically vital and energetic in both her solo pieces and piano duets.

Additionally, Lorna composed the Dylan Thomas Songs for high voice and piano which were premiered by Kathryn Whitney, mezzo-soprano and Anita Comba, pianist at Alix Goolden Hall, Victoria, BC.

“. . . Paterson’s setting of Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night . . . profoundly moving and instinctively well-crafted – a memorable work!”
– Joan Hansen, composer

Other reviews of Lorna’s compositions:

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

“an exhilarating piece to listen to or play”
– CFMTA

“attractive and refreshing recital selections”
“challenging and entertaining”
– Clavier Magazine

“interesting and original writing”
– The American Music Teacher

“wonderful character sketches”
– MRMTA