Gloucester born composer Louis Mander began his musical studies at an early age, his initial musical training and appreciation was instilled in him by his first piano teacher, Angele McKenzie-Smith with whom he achieved his ABRSM Grade 8  within 2 years of taking up lessons.  And it was whilst studying with Angele that Louis' first creative compositional ideas began. Often bringing new compositions for 'cello & piano to play through, as it was Angele's second instrument, the cello, from which Louis drew inspiration. In December 2000 Louis was awarded the 'Gloucestershire Young Composer of the Year', and his 'Fantasy for Bassoon & Orchestra' was premiered by the Gloucester Symphony Orchestra. At 17 Louis accepted his place to study music at Birmingham University, and in 2006 he completed his BMus with Hons, specialising in piano, with Johnathon French, composition with Vic Hoyland, conducting with Martin Leigh & orchestration & arrangement with Dr. Paul Rodmell. In 2006 Louis was accepted to study Composition & Composition for Screen at the Royal College of Music in London, completing his Postgraduate Diploma the following year. It was whilst at the Royal College of Music that he met Toni Castells, with whom he continues to collaborate as orchestrator & composer. He currently makes his living as free-lance composer, orchestrator  and piano teacher. Recent commissions include a song cycle setting from the poet Shelley Vaughan Williams,  a multi-million dollar feature-length film score, for 'Tunnel and bridge', the pre-production for which begins in June 2008,  a new contemporary opera, and a spanish tour of MOMO live in Barcelona, September 2008.