B I O G R A P H Y

Lester Barnes started learning piano at the age of six, achieving success in local piano competitions, and had his first professional work as saxophonist aged 13. From that time on he has played with numerous ensembles from classical orchestras to jazz and rock bands. Lester completed his musical studies in saxophone and composition at London's Guildhall School Of Music and Drama under John Harle and Francis Shaw (Room With A View).

Winning his first commercial commission for a network TV series while still a student, his career as a media composer has spanned many musical genres and all kinds of clients.

From early on in his career Lester has learnt to write at speed and under pressure; in 1992 he was given just two weeks to write, score and conduct music for the ITV network film The Tale of Little Pig Robinson staring Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Edward Fox et al, broadcast on boxing day (BAFTA nominee for best children's film).

Other early successes include music for the ITV film marking the 50th anniversary of D-day, a score for the POW film Enemy My Friend which won the Prix Italia award for best humanitarian film, and in 1992 music for Ambulance Watch, the first fly-on-the-wall documentary which won the Evening Standard Award for best independent documentary.

Lester has also earned considerable acclaim writing music for children's animations and cartoons. In 1996 he completed 26 fully scored 22 minute shows for the cartoon series Urmel, which continue to be broadcast in Germany, France, South Africa and elsewhere. From 2002-4 he worked on 2 series of Paz the Penguin for USA Discovery Kids' popular show Ready Set Learn broadcast 6 times each morning.

From an early age Lester had a fascination with synthesizers, which as a teenager started his interest in composing. Now with a studio in central London he has acquired an awesome array of the worlds most powerful and exotic keyboards and sound tools for use in his composing.