John Croft

Dr John Croft is a Reader in Music at Brunel University, affiliated with the Theatre, Music and Film/TV department within the Arts and Humanities school of the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. His work spans composition, music aesthetics, and philosophical inquiry into musical experience.

Dr Croft (b. 1971) studied philosophy and music at the Victoria University of Wellington, composition and music cognition at the University of Sheffield, and earned his PhD from the University of Manchester under John Casken.

His research examines how musical structures convey meaning and emotional content, with particular expertise in live electronics and historical adaptation. Teaching areas include Music Perception, Instrumentation and Orchestration, Musicology, and Music Aesthetics. His compositions have been performed by leading ensembles including the BBC Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, and Arditti String Quartet.

Recent compositional output shows continued exploration of acoustic-electronic integration and historical reinterpretation, with 2023 works 'Serenata II' and 'Felix namque (after Tallis)' demonstrating his signature blend of contemporary techniques with traditional forms.

• First Prize in the 2001 Jurgenson International Composers' Competition for String Quartet
• 2011 ICMA European Regional Award for ...ne l'aura que trema
• Prix Ton Bruynèl 2012 for Intermedio III

Dr Croft maintains an active creative practice alongside scholarly work, with his opera-monodrama Malédictions d'une furie recently premiered at the Sounds New Festival featuring Lore Lixenberg. His ORCID profile (0000-0003-4853-5883) documents ongoing contributions to both composition and music philosophy.