Composer Cecilia McDowall stepped away from her music studies to devote attention to her growing family, but returned to earn awards for her compositions. She has written for well-known artists and ensembles, both solo and chamber music. Her talents extended to children's opera with Deep Waters. The 2010s saw McDowall's prominence with audiences steadily increase, especially in Britain where the boom in British choral music has been congenial for her. The International Record Review has opined that McDowall has "a communicative gift that is very rare in modern music." ~ Rovi Staff