Nathan Dearden

Nathan Dearden is a Lecturer in Composition at the Department of Music, Royal Holloway, University of London. He is an award-winning Welsh composer, conductor, and educator, recognized for his hauntingly beautiful works that blend concert music with mixed media. His music has been performed by renowned ensembles including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Dearden holds a PhD in Music as Commentary from Royal Holloway and an MMus (Distinction) from Cardiff University.

His research explores parody in music and its role as social commentary, focusing on decontextualized borrowed materials and societal reflection. Notable works include collaborations with the National Youth Choir of Wales and the Choir of Royal Holloway. Dearden has received prestigious awards such as the 2022 Making Music UK 'Best Music Creator' and the inaugural Acapela Composer Award.

As a conductor, he specializes in 20th/21st-century repertoire, leading groups like CHROMA and the New Music Collective at Royal Holloway. His current projects include a Passion setting with immersive digital storytelling and collaborations with tenor Nicky Spence and cellist Guy Johnston. He serves as Lead Composition Tutor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trustee of Classical Remix, and Board Member of the Welsh Music Guild.

Key educational milestones include a Young Composer-in-Residence role with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and a Magnum Opus Residency with Britten Sinfonia. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, RTÉ lyric FM, and released on NMC Recordings and Delphian.