Oliver Rudland

was born in West Yorkshire in 1983. He studied composition with Huw Watkins and Joseph Horovitz at the Royal College of Music as a Foundation Scholar, and then at Cambridge University with Robin Holloway, where he now teaches.

His orchestral music has been played in masterclasses directed by Mark-Anthony Turnage, James MacMillan and Colin Matthews, and he has had chamber works performed at the Cheltenham International Music Festival, the Southbank Centre and the Cambridge Music Festival, as well as at venues in the U.S. and Europe. Oliver’s works have been performed by, among others, Matthew Gee (principal trombonist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), the Britten Sinfonia, the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir and Gonville and Caius College Chapel Choir. 

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. 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.

Future plans include a new setting of texts by Aristophanes for chorus and orchestra commissioned by the Pinnacle Ensemble directed by Michael Waldron, and a new opera in collaboration with the Arensky Chamber Orchestra and director James Hurley.

Yorkshire Songs, his song-cycle for baritone and piano quintet, is to receive its US premiere in New York City in mid-November, sung by baritone Benjamin Weil.