About
Colin Riley is a Senior Lecturer at Brunel University London, affiliated with the Music department under the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. He is a composer whose work integrates new technologies, improvisation, song-writing, and large-scale classical forms, creating genre-defying music performed by leading UK ensembles like the BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta.
His research interests focus on blending diverse stylistic approaches, with recent compositions including the concerto Warp and Weft, collaborative work In Place, and the percussion piece Rock Paper Scissors. Riley also runs the independent label Squeaky Kate, releasing his own and associated artists' works, and is active in mentoring through the Adopt A Composer Scheme.
His recent articles span compositions from 2013 to 2024, covering choral cycles like It Speaks Without Answer, orchestral works like Earth Voices, and experimental chamber pieces. These works often involve commissions from organizations such as the Arts Council of England, Wellcome Foundation, and international ensembles.
Riley's teaching emphasizes composition mentorship, and he leads his ensembles Homemade Orchestra and MooV. He has collaborated with artists like Bill Bruford and Michael Rosen, and his works have been performed at venues including the Purcell Room and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
