SHORT
Robert Crehan (b. 1991) is a British composer originally from Luton, Bedfordshire. His work draws inspiration from visual art and literature and is currently focused on elements of improvisation and spontaneity. Robert completed his studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) in 2017, and in 2018, enrolled at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) for his postgraduate studies, and returned recently as a Postgraduate Researcher at GSMD where his research explores how non-expert or “amateur” approaches to music-making can influence and reshape traditional ideas of composition and artistry. He is supervised by Paul Newland, Richard Baker, and Steve Potter. Robert’s compositions have been performed across the UK and internationally by ensembles including the Carice Singers, CoMA London, EXAUDI, London Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Orkest de Ereprijs (NL), Plus-Minus Ensemble, and Quatuor Bozzini (CA), among others. His work continues to gain recognition for its unique approach to music composition.
LONG
Robert Crehan (b. 1991) is a British composer from Luton, Bedfordshire, whose music explores the interplay of stark contrasts, abrupt cuts, and unexpected interruptions to create abstract, fragmented narratives. Drawing from the editing techniques used in visual media, Robert’s recent work experiments with diverging materials and textures, giving his compositions a sculpted, collage-like quality. His most recent achievement is a trilogy of orchestral works inspired by the styles of three prominent 20th-century Abstract Expressionists, blending musical form and colour in ways that parallel the expressive intensity of visual art.
His music has been heard by audiences across the UK and internationally, performed by renowned ensembles including the Carice Singers, EXAUDI vocal ensemble, London Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Orkest de Ereprijs (Netherlands), Plus-Minus Ensemble, Psappha Ensemble, and Quatuor Bozzini (Canada). Each performance of his work brings his unique sonic language to life, characterised by its juxtapositions and layered textures.
Robert’s journey to a career in composition was unconventional. Leaving formal education early, he devoted himself to self-directed study, teaching himself the fundamentals of composition, notation, and music history. His determination and self-discipline eventually led him to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) in 2013, where he was accepted to pursue formal training. At RBC, he completed his undergraduate studies with several prominent composers, including Ed Bennett, Seán Clancy, Joe Cutler, Andrew Hamilton, Howard Skempton, and Andrew Toovey. Their guidance has helped shaped his compositional voice, refining his early experiments in musical contrast and fragmentation into a more cohesive style.
In 2018, he advanced to postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) in London, an experience that marked a new phase in his artistic development. Here, he studied with Laurence Crane, Hollie Harding, and Paul Newland, deepening his engagement with contemporary compositional techniques and further expanding his approach to composition. Supported by the Leverhulme Trust and the Guildhall School Trust, he was awarded a Junior Fellowship following his graduation in 2020. The fellowship allowed him to continue his creative exploration within GSMD’s dynamic artistic environment.
Currently, he is enrolled in the doctoral research program at GSMD, where he is supervised by Richard Baker, Paul Newland, and Steve Potter, investigating exploring how non-expert or “amateur” approaches to music-making can influence and reshape traditional ideas of composition and artistry.
In addition to his compositional work, Robert is deeply committed to music education, teaching across a range of levels from primary to higher education. He was a composer for the Listen Imagine Compose – Primary project, an innovative initiative designed to develop a national curriculum for composition in primary education. This project reflects his belief in the importance of introducing young students to composition, cultivating creative expression from an early age.
Alongside his artistic and educational pursuits, Robert also serves as a civil servant with the Ministry of Justice. Balancing this role with his creative career, he brings a unique perspective to both his professional and artistic endeavours, embodying a dedication to public service and creative growth.
ROBERT CREHAN. 