Oliver Rudland

is one of the foremost composers of his generation, and is known particularly for his operas; he was born in West Yorkshire in 1983 and studied first as a Foundation Scholar at the Royal College of Music, and then at Cambridge University, where he currently teaches. 

His violin sonata, Velvet Storm, was commissioned by Amelia Jones for the Cheltenham International Music Festival in 2004. The Nightingale and the Rose, Oliver’s first opera, received its première at the Royal College of Music, London, and was then staged at the Carriageworks Theatre for four nights by Leeds Youth Opera in July 2008. Oliver has had choral works performed by The Pinnacle Ensemble, Gonville and Caius College Chapel Choir, and the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir. 

More recently, Oliver’s works have begun to attract international attention. His new song-cycle for baritone and piano quintet, Yorkshire Songs, and Blessing, a work for marimba sextet, have been warmly received in the United States, with the latter soon to be commercially recorded. His trombone piece, Conquests of Zeus, is soon to be launched by Matt Gee, principle trombonist for the RPO, at the British Trombone Society Conference.

As a producer, Oliver has been steadily gaining a reputation for organising highly professional performances. Most recently, he staged a production of his new children’s opera, The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark, based on the classic story by Jill Tomlinson, which received very positive reviews from audiences and critics alike.

Forthcoming projects include a choral setting of On May Morning by John Milton to celebrate his marriage in may, and a new opera in collaboration with the Arensky Chamber Orchestra and director James Hurley.