Joshua Brown

​Joshua Brown is a composer from Rossendale in the North West of England (born 1989).

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​He studied with Professor Philip Grange, leading British composer and student of both Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir Harrison Birtwistle. It was under Grange's supervision that he completed his PhD in Composition at the University of Manchester in 2018, after which he was Artist in Residence at the John Rylands Research Institute from 2019 to 2020, composing music inspired by the work of Alan Turing. Also in 2019-2020, he was mentored by Sir James Macmillan for the creation of a new work for the London Philharmonic Orchestra through the LPO Young Composers Scheme.

 

Joshua’s music often explores a combination of mathematical concepts and freedom for musicians. This dichotomy of precision processes while composing, alongside elements of chance in performance, embraces the unique qualities individual musicians bring to a piece of music so that each composition feels like a premiere every time it is played.

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His work is performed widely, in the UK and internationally, by leading ensembles and soloists. Collaborations have included working with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Quatuor Danel, Martynas Levickis and MikroOrkestra, Alice Allen, Jacob Heringman, Clare Wilkinson, John Potter, Susanna Pell, Jackie Shave and Red Note Ensemble, Alexander Gagatsis, Cheng Yu, Psappha, Natrio Ensemble, Charlotte Trepess, Vytautas Oskinis, Cuarteto Cromano, Pietro Roffi, Manchester Chamber Choir, and Mercury Strings.

 

Joshua is a passionate educator and has taught music in primary and secondary schools, as well as junior conservatoire and guest lectures in conservatoires in the UK and in Europe. He has led educational workshops for the RNCM Pathfinders scheme, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's In Harmony scheme, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra Junior Artists scheme (all of which support young musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds). Since 2021 he has held the position of Lecturer in Composition at the University of Manchester.

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​​​In 2022 he was involved with the Sound and Music/Making Music Adopt a Music Creator scheme, partnered with Glasgow Orchestral Society. This partnership with a community orchestra has continued and led to multiple new works, premieres, and recordings, including a BBC Radio 3 broadcast in 2023, and a new Cello Concerto in 2024.

 

2025 and 2026 will see new works composed for solo vibraphone, string quartet and pipa, and a work composed in collaboration with Sir John Tomlinson and the Hallé youth ensembles.