Jayson Mackie was born in Cardiff in 1975. He learned recorder, piano, flute and guitar as a child and developed an interest in composition during GCSE music studies.
His first composition was accepted for publication at the age of 16. After A-level studies in music and languages, he began an undergraduate degree in composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 1997. He was the first and only person to study this as a principal subject at the college. Following a successful time there, he gained scholarship prizes and many works were selected to represent the college around the UK in composition events. He graduated with distinction in all areas in 2000. Further studies followed and he was awarded an MMus in composition in 2005.
Jayson has been teaching piano and woodwind privately since 1994 and has worked as a classroom primary music teacher and peripatetic woodwind and piano teacher.
After 41 years in Cardiff, he relocated to Nottingham in 2016. Jayson continues to teach privately and compose. His interests include watches, collecting vintage magazines, playing saxophone and flute and watching and reading horror.
