I wrote Christmas Light for a choir and glockenspiel to celebrate poet Betty McKellars 90th birthday. I love the colour and imagery in Bettys work and the honesty and clarity of her writing.I first discovered her work in the 1990s and set her poem Cramasie Threid for soprano and cello.I then took the poem Sangsters as the starting point for a concerto for orchestra which was premiered by the Swedish Chamber Orchestra in 2002.I have always enjoyed collaborating with non-professional and community groups, which I find stimulating and inspiring. These are musicians for whom music is an absolute pleasure who give time without