Nicholas Casswell (born 1974) is a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 composer specializing in chamber music.

Biography

Born on 25 July 1974 in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, Cassell studied at the Dartington College of Arts

Dartington College of Arts

Dartington College of Arts was a specialist arts institution near Totnes, Devon, South West England, it specialized in post-dramatic theatre, music, choreography, Performance Writing and visual performance, focusing on a performative and multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. In addition to this,...

 in Devon (1993–1996) and at the University of York

University of York

The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...

 (1998–1999). Thereafter he completed his PhD studies in composition at the University of Leeds

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...

.

In 2000, his string quartet composition "Papillon" won the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society

Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society

thumb|rightLeeds Philosophical and Literary Society is a Learned society in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1819, and its museum collection forms the basis of Leeds City Museum, which reopened in September 2008...

’s Millennium Composing Award and was also performed at the 2001 Gaudeamus Music Week

Gaudeamus International Composers Award

The Gaudeamus International Composers Award is a European award issued by the Music Center the Netherlands...

. The first movement of his "The Transformation and Other Stories" earned him the title of most promising composer at the 7th International Young Composers Meeting in Apeldoorn

Apeldoorn

Apeldoorn is a municipality and city in the province of Gelderland, about 60 miles south east of Amsterdam, in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a regional centre and has 155,000 . The municipality of Apeldoorn, including villages like Beekbergen, Loenen and Hoenderloo, has over 155,000...

. In 2003, "Temporal Trajectories" for percussion quartet was awarded second prize at the 2nd Jurgenson International Young Composers Competition in Moscow

Moscow

Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...

. Under a fellowship awarded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Established in April 2005 as successor to the Arts and Humanities Research Board, the Arts and Humanities Research Council is a British Research Council and non-departmental public body that provides approximately £102 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the...

, he conducted research into the Korean folk music sanjo

Sanjo (music)

Sanjo, literally meaning 'scattered melodies' and is a style of traditional Korean music, involving an instrumental solo accompanied by drumming on the janggu, an hourglass-shaped drum...

 at London University's School of Oriental and African Studies

School of Oriental and African Studies

The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...

. Nicholas Casswell is currently Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Performing Arts at University of Central Lancashire

University of Central Lancashire

The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...

, Preston.

Awards

• First Prize, International Composition Competition
  Luxembourg Sinfonietta
  The Luxembourg Sinfonietta is an orchestral ensemble for contemporary music in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Initially it consisted of 10 to 15 instruments, including tuba, accordion, mandolin and harpsichord but now typically extends to clarinet, clarinet bass, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone,...
  
  , Luxembourg, 2007.
• ISCM-IAMIC Young Composer Award (2007).

Works

Among Nicholas Casswell's works are:

• "Chorisis", orchestral ensemble (14 players), 1999
• "Return", flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, trumpet, violin, double bass, 1998
• "Papillon", string quartet, 1999
• "Methexis", alto saxophone, 1999
• "Temporal Trajectories", four percussion, 2000
• "The Transformation and Other Stories", two sopranos, tenor, baritone, flute, clarinet, two saxophones, two French horns, trumpet, trombone, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, percussion, 2001
• "distance…presence", flute, clarinet, two saxophones, two French horns, trumpet, trombone, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, percussion, 2002
• "Piano Quartet", violin, viola, cello, piano, 2002
• "Lumine", four male voices, 2002
• "Triplicity", orchestral ensemble, 2007

Discography

• "International Composition Prize Luxembourg 2007, World Premiere Recordings": Nicholas Casswell, "Triplicity"; Robert Lemay, "Mare Tranquilitatis III"; Akihiro Kano, "The Fifth Station"; Gordon Hamilton, "Sinfonietta Concertante". Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 407.