Having been described as ‘sleekly shimmering’ (Gramophone) and a composer of ‘clear composition voice’ (Edinburgh Music Review), Cameron Biles-Liddell is a celebrated composer and workshop practitioner based in north Wales who places story-telling at the heart of his compositional process. 

 

Having been brought up in north Wales, Cameron’s music regularly takes inspiration from local folklore and landmarks across the UK. From depicting dramatic medieval battlefields in Caer Drewyn (The Hill Fort) which was premiered by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, to setting Scottish poetry of shorelines in The Breakers, a recent song-cycle commission for Beth Taylor and Hamish Brown. Cameron is fascinated by how contemporary music can captivate audiences through using local culture and regional heritage to articulate music that resonates. Many of these pieces have gone on to receive repeat performances at prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall, receiving multiple broadcasts on BBC Radio Three, as well as being featured on the NMC, Linn and Rubicon record labels.  

 

These interests have led to Cameron working with some of the most prestigious ensembles and orchestras in the UK, most notably he has collaborated with: Huw Watkins and Ruby Hughes; Riot Ensemble; Fenella Humphreys; Beth Taylor and Hamish Brown, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Most recent performances and commissions include being a featured artist at the Cheltenham and Three Choirs Festivals in 2024, as well as making his Buxton International Music Festival debut in the same year. Through working with these institutions, Cameron’s Yr Afon Yn Yr Awyr (The River in the Sky) gained its English Premiere with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Three Choirs Festival, as well as collaborating with the celebrated Roderick Williams to create a new song-cycle on the theme of heroism for the Cheltenham and Buxton Music Festivals. Above all else, Cameron always seeks to establish meaningful and long-term partnerships with all the musicians and organisations he works with. 

 

Cameron’s talents have also been recognised by many cultural institutions and composition development programmes, where notable highlights include working with the National Youth Choir  as part of their Young Composers 6 programme; being one of eight composers selected on the highly prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Composer Programme for 2024-2025; participating in RSNO’s Composers’ Hub programme in 2023, and participating on BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ Composition: Wales programme twice. In many of these programmes, Cameron owes a debt of gratitude for the support these organisations have given him, especially for igniting his passion for vocal and orchestral music. 

 

Outside of composition, Cameron is passionate about equity in the arts and providing access to all. This has led to him being BBC NOW’s inaugural north Wales Associate, a north Wales focused education producer and workshop leader. In this role, he facilitated a host of different projects, from founding the Young Composers of north Wales programme, to school and care home concerts. Through working within learning and engagement teams for ABRSM, Britten Sinfonia and most recently, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as a lead composer mentor and arranger, Cameron passionately believes that creativity and composition can be a force for good in society. 

 

Looking ahead, Cameron is particularly thrilled to be working with former Royal Harpist and Decca Artist, Alis Huws, on a new harp concerto which was co-commissioned by BBC NOW, Radio 3 and North Wales International Music Festival. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will also be premiering his new Concerto for Orchestra, Ghost Dances, while Beth Taylor and Hamish Brown will tour his new song-cycle, The Breakers. Finally, Cameron is looking forward to exploring his Scottish heritage while making his Edinburgh and Glasgow debut with his third String Quartet, commissioned by the Edinburgh Quartet.