Joanna Ward (b. 1998)
Composer; Performer; Writer; Fundraiser
Works published by MoV
Hail, O Queen (SSATB)
Hail, O Queen (SSATB)
The Marian anthem Hail, O Queen is a setting of the well-known text Ave, Regina Caelorum. The piece begins sparsely, with the text broken up and shared around the voices using a downwards step motif which permeates the piece. As the text progresses, the texture becomes denser and the harmony slowly shifts, before returning to the sparse major-second motif of the opening. Rather than writing a gentle and melodic piece around the idea of the benevolent mother Mary, I rather created a close, focussed sound-world, responding to the power and magic of the Mary figure. (Joanna Ward)
Translation: Hail, O Queen of Heav’n enthron’d,
Hail, by angels Mistress own’d
Root of Jesse, Gate of morn,
Whence the world’s true light was born.
(Translation by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814–78))
Hail, O Queen (SSATB)
This work is published in our anthology Volume 1 and as a licenced digital pdf
To order the sheet music click on the buttons below.
Perusal score coming soon
(August 2025)
Joanna Ward (b. 1998)
Joanna Ward (b. 1998) is a composer, performer, and writer from Newcastle upon Tyne, currently based in London. Her score-making ranges from the relatively conventional to the very experimental. She often works with pre-recorded audio, video, and in collaboration with other musicians and artists.
Recent projects have included: for LCMF 2025, in collaboration with her sister, Laurie Ward; for the Marian Consort for the Aldeburgh Festival 2024; for Slide Action for their acclaimed album ‘RE:BUILD’ on NMC Recordings; for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for Tectonics Festival; for Zubin Kanga's Cyborg Soloists project; for EXAUDI for the Norfolk & Norwich Festival; for Natalie Burch for her recent album ‘Our Indifferent Century’ on Delphian Records; and for Newcastle Youth Choir for the Newcastle Sings Festival.
Joanna is currently teaching on the MA Arts Management at Goldsmiths University. She graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a Masters in Composition in 2021, learning with Amber Priestley, and from the University of Cambridge with a BA in Music in 2019. She was a Junior Fellow at GSMD and a Britten Pears Young Artist in 2021-22.
As a vocalist and performer, Joanna is interested in contemporary and experimental repertoires as well as songwriting and improvisation. She notably performs in a duo with fellow composer/performer Omri Kochavi, and experimental choral collective Musarc. Alongside her work as a composer and performer, Joanna works as a fundraiser in the performing arts.
©JW for MoV 2025