Christopher Mayo was born in 1980 and is a Toronto-based composer of orchestral, chamber, vocal and electronic music. His work, variously described as 'cogent, haunting and […] desperately poignant' (The Times) and 'a steampunk collection of gnarly machine-like noises, flashy timbres, and explosive rhythms' (Classical Voice North America), is characterised by its distinctive rhythmic language and wide range of diverse and eclectic inspirations.
Mayo’s works have been commissioned and performed by leading ensembles worldwide, including London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, London Sinfonietta, Crash Ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, Aurora Orchestra, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Ensemble contemporain de Montréal and Manchester Camerata, where he was the Composer-in-Residence in 2012/13. His music has been commercially recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra on its LSO Live label as well as by Aurora Orchestra for NMC Recordings.
Mayo holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto, a Master’s degree from the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Julian Anderson, and a PhD from the Academy, where he studied with Philip Cashian.