‘Ada in Ealing’: A Conversation with Composer Laura Rossi
Today, the Royal Albert Hall plays host to a truly remarkable musical celebration of local talent, creativity, and collaboration. Ealing Together brings together 1,400 schoolchildren, a mass choir from 40 local schools, youth orchestras and ensembles, and the 75-strong Ealing Symphony Orchestra (ESO) for a performance on one of the world’s most iconic stages.
At the heart of the programme is the world premiere of Ada in Ealing — a vibrant, imaginative new work by acclaimed local composer Laura Rossi with a libretto by celebrated children’s author Michael Rosen. Commissioned by ESO to mark their centenary, the piece brings Ealing's past and present to life through the lens of computing pioneer Ada Lovelace, who once lived in the borough.
We caught up with Laura to learn more about the inspiration behind Ada in Ealing, her collaboration with Michael Rosen, and the joy (and challenge) of composing for such a vast and diverse group of young performers.
Q&A with Composer Laura Rossi
1. Can you tell us a bit about your composition Ada in Ealing, which is being premiered at the Royal Albert Hall on June 24th?
It’s a fun piece - very melodic and colourful - with different styles incorporated within the composition, just like Michael Rosen’s text. Ada Lovelace, who lived in Ealing, comes back and is taken on a journey across the borough to see what’s been going on since she’s been away. The piece celebrates the rich musical and cultural history of Ealing, as well as more poignant moments, as Rosen delves into the lives of Ealing’s people over the last 150 years.
Ada herself played the piano, harp, flute and sang - she practised 4-5 hours a day! Her music and needlework studies helped her invent the first computer programme - using repetitive patterns, loops, and holes punched into cards like a weaving loom. She’s a brilliant role model for the kids, showing how studying the arts can lead to achievements in computing and mathematics too. She even foresaw that computers could compose music - which makes this concert feel even more fitting.
2. You’ve collaborated with the brilliant Michael Rosen on this project - what was it like setting his words to music, and what places in Ealing feature in the piece?
Michael’s text is brilliant - it cleverly weaves Ada’s story into Ealing’s cultural and historical landmarks. The piece starts with three high school students doing a project on Ada. She then pops out of the computer and wants to know what’s changed. Michael plays the part of Wikipedia and helps guide Ada on a musical journey around Ealing.
It’s part music-theatre, with narration between songs about places and people from Ealing: Ealing Trains; War of the Worlds Chapter 16, which is set here; W.S. Gilbert (who attended the Great Ealing School); the Hanger Lane Gyratory (near where Ada lived); the Windrush Garden in Walpole Park; Southall; the Ealing Club Blues; Questors Theatre (where Michael started out); and Ealing Studios.
3. With over 1,400 young performers taking part, this Royal Albert Hall performance is a monumental moment for the borough. What were the challenges in writing this?
It’s been a huge undertaking! The piece is scored for symphony orchestra, a mass choir of 1,200 children from 40 schools, plus 400 young musicians from ensembles like Ealing Youth Jazz Orchestra and Ealing Youth Orchestra.
I wanted the music to be melodic, colourful, and enjoyable to sing and play - especially since many younger children are involved. There’s body percussion, spoken lines for three orchestra members, and I’ve doubled up vocal parts with instruments to help the choir follow the melody. It was important to keep it accessible and fun while still musically rich.
4. How did this project come to be, and what is your Ealing connection?
ESO and Ealing Music Service wanted to celebrate local music-making and ESO’s centenary by staging a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, conducted by John Gibbons. I’ve been part of ESO since I was 22, playing violin, and they’ve commissioned me for other works before - so they approached me to write something special.
Michael Rosen, who began acting and directing at Questors Theatre, was brought on board to write the text. I’ve lived in Ealing since I was 21 and my children, Marcella and Rocco, went to school here. My son is actually performing in the piece, playing electric guitar and also appearing with the Ealing Youth Jazz Orchestra - so this concert really means a lot to me.
About Laura Rossi
Laura Rossi is a renowned composer for film, TV, ballet, and concert works. Her credits include Battle of the Somme, London to Brighton, Song for Marion, Redemption, and Hurricane. Her concert works - including Voices of Remembrance and Under the Rainbow - have been performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Recently, she composed a two-hour ballet score for Atonement, based on Ian McEwan’s novel, choreographed by Cathy Marston for Ballet Zurich and Joffrey Ballet Chicago.
🎟 Tickets for Ealing Together at the Royal Albert Hall (24 June 2025)
Available now from the Royal Albert Hall box office
Read more about the performance in the Spring issue (click below.)
