photography | Catrin Arwel

photography | Catrin Arwel

Described as “a champion of his generation” and whose music is “hauntingly beautiful” (Media Wales), Nathan James Dearden is an award-winning Welsh composer of concert music and mixed media, conductor, and educator.

Nathan's music has been commissioned, performed, featured and workshopped by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Berkeley Ensemble, Welsh National Opera, mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston, The Tippett QuartetGenesis Sixteen, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Orchestra of Wales, The Heath Quartet, Grand Band, the Fidelio Trio, Hebrides Ensemble, CHROMA ensemble, and flautist Carla Rees. His music regularly features in concerts across the UK and overseas, including at the Cheltenham Music Festival, Dartington International Summer School and Festival, International Young Composers' Meeting, CROSSROADS International New Music Festival and Vale of Glamorgan Festival of Music. Nathan began his professional composing life as an inaugural Young Composer-in-Residence with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and Music Creator for Sinfonia Newydd in 2013. Since then his music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, Resonance FM, RTÉ lyric FM, S4C and Soho Radio, whilst also released on NMC Recordings and Delphian.

Recent notable performances and projects include: Three Motets, commissioned by Presteigne Festival of Music and Arts; messages, commissioned by Three Choirs Festival; a Welsh tour of The day following with UPROAR New Music Ensemble; and That now are distant, commissioned by Nicky Spence and Andrew Matthews-Owen.

Upcoming projects include a Passion setting combining choir, chamber ensemble and immersive, digital storytelling in partnership with the Choir of Royal Holloway (generously supported by the PRS Foundation), plus collaborations and commissions with Music Theatre Wales, City Music Foundation, Aberystywth University, and the BBC Singers.

Nathan has recently won the prestigious Tlws y Cyfansoddwr [Composer’s Medal] at the 2024 Eisteddfod Genedlaethol for his work, (ail-) atgofion. He has also received the following accolades: ‘Best Music Creator’ in the 2022 Making Music UK Awards for a legacy commission with National Youth Training Choirs of Great Britain - i breathe; selected to represent Wales at the 2023 International Society for Contemporary music World Music Days in South Africa; awarded an Early Career Public Engagement Grant from the Institute of Musical Research in support of Spotlight Series: Finnissy at 70; selected as a London Philharmonic Orchestra Leverhulme Arts Scholar for their 2016/2017 season; received the inaugural Paul Mealor Award for Outstanding Young Composers in May 2017, and in summer 2021 he received the inaugural Acapela Composer Award for an outstanding Welsh Composer by the Welsh Music Guild.

As a conductor, Nathan is carving a career as one of the most sought-after interpreters of his generation for the performance of twentieth and twenty-first century repertoire. Nathan has held posts and guest conductorships at National Youth Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Choir of Wales, CHROMA, Cardiff University, Cardiff Contemporary Music Group, London Metropolitan University / CASS Institute, and is currently the Director of New Music Collective and New Voices Consort at Royal Holloway, University of London. Nathan made his London Philharmonic Orchestra conducting debut with members of the LPO at their 2018 Summer Gala. Nathan has recorded, performed and premiered works by established living composers such as Judith Weir, David Lang, Caroline Shaw, Michael Finnissy, Benjamin Tassie, Gavin Bryars and Howard Skempton, plus hundreds of new works by young and emerging composers. 

Based in London, Nathan is currently Lecturer in Music Composition and Music Performance Manager at Royal Holloway, University of London. Supervised by Mark Bowden, Nathan completed his doctoral research in 2023, where his interests include parody in music, and music as a form of social commentary. 

Nathan holds a Bachelor of Music (with Honours) from Cardiff University, where he was awarded the David Lloyd Music Prize for excellence in vocal studies and choral work (2012) and the Elizabeth Griffiths Award for his outstanding contribution to the musical life at Cardiff University School of Music (2013). He later graduated from Cardiff University as a Master of Music (with Distinction) in Music Composition with Robert Fokkens, Louis Johnson and Arlene Sierra, where his studies were kindly supported by Cardiff University, the James Pantyfedwen Foundation and the RVW Trust

Nathan is Chair of Wales Council for Ivors Academy, a Member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (MISM), a Trustee of Classical Remix, Board Member of the Welsh Music Guild and Presteigne Festival, Featured Composer and Mentor with Cerddwn, Festival Manager of Chamber Music on Valentia, an Academy Member of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (Ivors) and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).

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© 2024 nathan james dearden

official supporters + associated organisations

Nathan James Dearden gratefully acknowledges current support from the PRS Foundation, plus these recent and past supporters:

associated publishers