Winterwunderland (Winter Wonderland) for Flutes, Harp, Percussion and Strings Nicolas Kingman

After losing my dog, I found myself turning to music more than ever. The silence in my home felt heavy, and the songs helped fill the spaces where he used to be. Music has become a way for me to process the loss, to make sense of the emotions, and to hold onto the memories that still mean so much. Each melody reminds me that healing takes time, and it’s okay to lean on the things that bring comfort along the way.

I am a British composer who specialises in music for theatre and have written several operas and musicals and a ballet. Alongside this runs an interest in writing music for the concert hall and works to date include much chamber music including a string quartet which made the finals of the Chamelion Composers' Competetion in 2000 held at Croydon's Clock Tower, a prize winning opera Fur (1998 Alan Rawsthorne Prize - awarded by the RNCM on graduation), and most recently a Piano Quartet (2006) which won the Primrose Composition Competition awarded by the LCM and has since been shortlisted by SPNM for their shortlist during the 2007 'Call for Scores'. Other music includes much orchestral music including in 1997, Towards the Gates of Heaven (first performed by the RNCM Wind Orchestra conducted by Clark Rundell) a vast tone poem depicting Jesus' resurrection into heaven. Also I have written several works for piano and organ (my two principal instruments) and music for the church. Works in progress include two musicals; 'Sirens' with book and lyrics by Anthony Dowlatshahi and 'Up in Arms' with book and lyrics by Laurence Roman. I graduated with a B Mus (Hons) degree from the RNCM in 1998, having studied Composition with Dr. Anthony Gilbert, and most recently in 2006, I completed a Masters in Theatre Composition at the London College of Music (music faculty of Thames Valley University) studying with Francis Pott and Laurence Roman (formally assistant to Andrew Lloyd Webber at RUG) and was awarded a Pass with Merit. My music can be heard on myspace and youtube also.