Nathan Dearden, enillydd Tlws y Cyfansoddwr, 2024
10 Aug 2024

The winner of the Composer's Trophy at the Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod is Nathan James Dearden

He received his award in a special ceremony at the Eisteddfod Pavilion at Ynysangharad Park on Saturday night.

The Trophy is presented to the most promising composer for a composition for a chamber ensemble using images from Rhondda Cynon Taf as inspiration.

Nathan, from Tonarefail in the Rhondda, was one of three composers who haT worked with professional musicians for a first performance of his winning piece.

Lowri Mair Jones, winner of last year's Trophy at the Llyn and Eifionydd Eisteddfod and Tomos Williams as well as Nathan were chosen to work together with the composer John Rea and a quartet from Sinfonia Cymru to create new compositions since the beginning of the year, and their works will be performed for the first time tonight.

Nathan James Dearden is a composer, conductor and educator. His music has been performed and covered by many of Europe's leading orchestras and his music regularly appears in concerts throughout the UK and abroad.

Before the ceremony he said: "I was so happy to be chosen and to work together with friends. The process is very interesting and I have not done anything similar before. We have worked together and helped each other and that's very special," he said,

He is currently a Lecturer in Music Composition at Royal Holloway University in London, Leader of the New Voices Consort and Chair of the Welsh Council and Mentor with Academi Ivor.

Projects in progress include a Passion setting combining choir, chamber ensemble and immersive digital storytelling in partnership with the Royal Holloway Choir.

The piece was played during the ceremony before the winner was named. The competition is held in collaboration with Tŷ Cerdd, Sinfonia Cymru and the Welsh Music Association. The financial prize was donated by John and Janice Samuel, Sidcup, Kent, in memory of John’s parents, David Hopkin and Gwenllian Samuel, Abernant, Aberdare.