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.  He was Artist in Residence at the John Rylands Research Institute from 2019 to 2020, during which time he was mentored by Sir James Macmillan for the creation of a new work for the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Since 2021 he has held the position of Lecturer in Composition at the University of Manchester. Joshua is a passionate educator and previously taught composition at the Junior RNCM 2018-2024. He has also led educational workshops for the RNCM’s Pathfinders scheme, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's In Harmony scheme, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Junior Artists scheme, all of which support young musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds. He is frequently commissioned to compose new music for young musicians and community ensembles, such as the Halle Youth Orchestra, the LPO Junior Artists, Manchester Chamber Choir, Devon Philharmonic Orchestra, and Glasgow Orchestral Society (including a PRS funded commission broadcast on BBC Radio 3).

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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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Joshua’s work is performed 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, Jacqueline Shave, Red Note Ensemble, Alexander Gagatsis, Psappha, Natrio Ensemble, Charlotte Trepess, Vytautas Oskinis, Cuarteto Cromano, Pietro Roffi, and Mercury Strings.

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Future collaborations will include: Henry McPherson, Sir John Tomlinson with the Halle Youth Ensembles, Cheng Yu, Simon Grange and Richard Whalley, Imogen Whitehead, and Sarah Keirle Dos Santos.