Global success for young composer

COMPOSER: Nic Mills at the piano

A 20-year-old composer from Diggle Band has had his most ambitious work performed across the globe.

Talented Nic Mills had hardly encountered brass bands before he chose the University of Huddersfield for his music degree — but has now played percussion with several and found them keen to tackle his compositions.

His biggest work so far, named “Symphonic Suite for Brass Band”, has been published by a leading firm based in Switzerland and given its premiere by the Swiss Army Brass Band after its conductor encountered the technically-challenging work when he was visiting the offices of the company. The international premiere was met with critical acclaim.

A wind band in Beijing has performed the final movement of the piece, and he has received a concert recording, while pieces by Nic have been given demo recordings by top outfit the Leyland Band.

Nic said: “It was a real thrill to receive the recording from China. They do a great job with the piece and it is quite a buzz to think of my music being played thousands of miles away!

“Brass bands are great for young composers. They are highly accessible and always on the look-out for new music”.

Nic learned to play flute and piano as a youngster, but while studying for his music GCSE at school in Plymouth he became captivated by composition, influenced by his teacher.

As a sixth-former, he won the South-West Young Composer contest, after writing the score for a film about a flooded Cornish village. He also attended a composition weekend at London’s Royal Academy of Music and heard some of his music performed.

The next stage was to study for a BMus degree and Nic, who has relatives in the region, plumped for the University of Huddersfield. He is now about to embark on the third year of his degree course and aims for a career as a composer.

The university’s wind orchestra, conducted by music lecturer Phillip McCann, premiered Nic’s work “The Spirit” at the Summer Showcase held in June.

Nic said: “The tutors here are very helpful with my composition, even though it’s not necessarily their style.

“They are very keen to help and they see me as learning about the contemporary techniques that are taught here and then using them in my own pieces, although not necessarily in a contemporary style.

“If I had gone to a different university, I don’t think I would have had the same opportunities. Huddersfield has been great and very supportive.”

Nic, who also has ambitions to write TV and film scores — composers such as John Barry and John Williams are influences — has also written for unusual combinations, such as an ensemble that mixed Japanese and Western instruments.

He added: “Brass bands are great and they has kick-started my career. But I also aim to compose for orchestra.”