While the Music Lasts was originally big-five-published by Orion/Hachette. This is an updated, second, edition.

Runner-up in the Writer's Digest ebook awards, it was inspired by McVeigh's years as a London cellist, and marketed as "the secret life of an orchestra."

“This portrayal of the psychosexual duet between men and women, and of the music-making process in a symphony orchestra, sings with lyrical intensity and eloquent feeling” (Publishers Weekly)

(Honorable mention/fourth place in Writers Digest Annual ebook Awards, 2022)


"The orchestra becomes a universe in microcosm - all human life is here" (The Sunday Times)

"A very enjoyable novel - and not quite as light as it pretends to be." (The Sunday Telegraph)


Life in the (fictional) Orchestra of London as seen through the eyes of several musicians. Perfectly representing the disparate attitudes, feelings and ambitions of a symphony orchestra full of passionate musicians, it brilliantly weaves together affairs, musical jealousies, a misdirected love letter, and an unusual codicil to a will.