Biography
Cameron is an award winning composer & pianist based in North Wales, studying for a PhD in composition at the University of Manchester, funded by the Victor’s Sayers Award for composition. As a composer, he has been supported for his work by Help Musicians UK, John Mathews trust and The Paul Mealor Bursary for Young Composers, to develop his craft at Dartington’s Advanced Composition Course and Vale of Glamorgan Festival. His music takes inspiration from a wide variety of sources, ranging from the environment, artwork and aspects of temporality found in music. In particular, Cameron’s music focusses on creating delicate sound worlds that subtly unfold over time where the life cycles found in nature informs his approach to how a musical idea reveal itself over the course of a piece.
His music has commented on having ‘strikingly original textures’ with a keen ear for ‘new timbral and textural combinations’ and has been performed by some of the UK’s leading contemporary ensembles and performers. Some of these include: BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Solem Quartet, solo harpist Olivia Jageurs, Psappha and the Magnard Ensemble to name a few. This has led to his music being performed across Britain, where most recently he has been selected prestigious schemes such as BBC Composition Wales: 2021 and Psappha’s ‘Composing For…’ scheme for 2021 - 2022. Through participating in these schemes, Cameron has been able to hone his craft and enjoyed fostering collaborative relationships with esteemed conductors and performers, including Ryan Bancroft (principle conductor of BBC NOW), Yovan Markovitch (Quatuor Danel) and Lauren Scott & Conrad Marshall (Psappha).
'A composer with strikingly original textures, with a keen ear to crafting delicate sonorities'
Huw Watkins (Composer & Pianist)
Cameron has also enjoyed serval commissions from a variety of organisations, ranging from the Norfolk and Norwich Festival as part of their 250 year anniversary, NEW Sinfonia as well as the National Youth Percussion and French Horn Ensemble. It is through these collaborations that he has been able to participate in some of the leading composition academies in the UK. Most recently, Cameron attended the Cheltenham Music Festivals Composers' Academy in 2022, along with Dartington's Advanced Composition course in 2021. These intensive courses allowed Cameron to develop his craft under esteemed composers such as Nico Muhly and Dan Kidane, whilst receiving premier performances at both festivals. He has also participated in masterclasses from Welsh Composer and Pianist, Huw Watkins, allowing him to consider new possibilities of his artistic practice. From this Cameron has acquired a wealth of experience through working with a range of musicians and composers, ranging from early music musicians such as Viol De Gamba player, Liam Bryne, to some leading the contemporary music specialists in the UK
This was complemented with his recent collaboration with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), as part of their annual Composers’ Hub scheme for 21:22. During this Cameron composed two pieces for both chamber and full orchestra under the guidance of composer mentor, Stuart MacRae. Alongside this, he has received commission from the art gallery, Tŷ Pawb, to compose a piece based on a featured artist in their gallery. Through working with these organisations, he has enjoyed creating interdisciplinary works through collaborating with a variety of professionals outside of the music profession. This most recently includes working with the Bangor based artist, Pete Jones, to create a solo piano work based on Tŷ Pawb’s ‘Annwn’ exhibition.
Outside of composition, Cameron is a keen pianist and educator where he has performed live on S4C as part of the prestigious Blue Riband Prize at the National Eisteddfod in LLanwrst 2020. At the University of Manchester, Cameron is the artistic director of the University of Manchester's New Music Ensemble, where most recently he ran a two day residency for the composer-pianist, Huw Watkins. He is also a key advocate for accessibility in Western Classical Music and is part of University of Manchester’s Widening Participation Team, as well as Music Associate for Theatr Clwyd.
