Chick Lyall

Chick graduated with a BMus (Hons) from The University of Glasgow where he studied composition with Lyell Cresswell and piano with Gusztav Fenyo. He later studied with the composer and theorist Joe Maneri at the New England Conservatory in Boston (Massachusetts). He has since been active as a pianist /composer both in jazz and classical music. He has written music for various ensembles including SCO, Ecat, SNJO, Mc Falls Chamber and Academy Now. He has also written and performed improvised and Jazz music with many of the leading Scottish jazz musicians including Tom Bancroft, Colin Steele, Kevin McKenzie and Rob Hall with whom he has recorded five albums for FMR records.

In addition he was a founding member of the Electro-acoustic improvising ensemble Green Room who have released five albums to date. His recordings also include a solo piano album (Solitary Dance) and two albums with Scandinavian Saxophonists Tore Brunborg and Joakim Milder. He has also collaborated with musicians from varied backgrounds including the composer Bill Sweeney, trombonist John Kenny and pianist Steven Osborne.

In addition to his freelance performing activities, Chick Lyall teaches Classical Piano at Dollar Academy and has been a Jazz teacher at St Mary's Music school since 2007.

In 2004 Chick Lyall received a Creative Scotland Award from the Scottish Arts Council.