Would you please introduce yourself?

I'm John Metcalf, a freelance classical composer living a couple of miles north of Lampeter, near Llanfair Clydogau.

Tell us about the ways in which your life and work involves you in the local community of Lampeter.

I work from home, spending as much time in Mid Wales as possible. It's a good place for creative work, quiet and peaceful. My work has been fairly regularly performed close to home by Lampeter Music Club, at Aberystwyth Arts Centre and at Swansea as well as nationally and internationally. I am also the organist of Cellan Church.

When did you decide to make this community your home?

I moved back to Wales from Canada in 1991 where I had been one of the artistic directors of the Banff Center for the Arts. I was born in Swansea but was drawn to the tranquillity of Lampeter and Ceredigion.

What influenced the choice to create a life and career in West Wales?

It is hard to earn a living simply from composing music. However, if you are a professional composer it's best to spend as much time as possible writing music. My move here was designed to allow me to do that and, on the whole, has worked very well.

Is your music influenced by your surroundings and living here?

I think it is, though it is hard to express in words. What makes Debussy 'French' or Sibelius 'Finnish' ?I composed music from an early age, before having any realtraining. It's the path I have always followed.

Do you have a family history of music?

My grandfather was a very good pianist. I still have his volume of Beethoven Sonatas.

What do you hope to convey to others through your writings?

I don't know how to answer that. I think that my music may mean different things to people at different times. But I do try to put my whole heart, soul and intellect into the music.

Please describe your greatest musical inspirations and how these have influenced your own work?

I think the natural world and the landscape has been an important influence for me. I also believe that music is an emotional as well as an intellectual experience.

What has been the happiest / proudest moment in your musical career?

I'm always most excited by my current or most recent work. The premiere of my opera 'A Chair in Love' in Swansea in October 2005 and Montreal in June 2006 was a recent high point. It was my sixth opera.

This year has been a busy one for you. You have been honoured by your peers in many ways as you celebrate your 60th birthday please tell us how this year has been for you?

Yes, I have had a busy 60th birthday year with a great number of concerts. Thank you everyone for the flowers, champagne, cards and chocolates! They have gone but a warm glow remains. The celebratory concerts in London, Cardiff, overseas and locally in Lampeter and Aberystwyth were memorable occasions.

Please describe the work that you are involved in at the moment?

I am currently working on a String Quartet. It's in a single movement and is based on the idea of walking, aboriginal walkabout and pilgrimage. It will be premiered in Wales, England and Scotland this year by a brilliant young quartet - the Sacconi Quartet. Among these are performances in Bangor on March 14, Lower Machen on June 28 and Llandudno on July 13.

What would be your greatest hoped for achievement in your career?

I think it would be most composers' hope that some of their work might stand the test of time.

What has been the happiest time or moment in your life?

I am happiest with simple things and I think we're very blessed to live where we do.

What lies ahead?

I plan to spend less time travelling and even more time composing. This is for personal as well as global reasons.

Please list forthcoming events that will take place locally or regionally.

I have important premieres in Canada and Germany in the coming months and an American pianist Ivan Ilic is performing my work Endless Song on an extensive Welsh tour.

A major highlight in the autumn will be the release on Signum Classics of my first CD recorded with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

It was recorded at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea last December and features three works - In Time of Daffodils (Baritone and Orchestra), Mobiles (Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra) and Paradise Haunts in the version for violin and orchestra.

This follows the success of my recent CD for Nimbus records which included the premiere recording of Cello Symphony and also Mapping Wales which was commissioned by Lampeter Music Club to celebrate the millennium.

Question and Answers between Victoria Whiteland and John Metcalf