Dominic Wills is an up-and-coming composer, currently based in Hamburg, where he is writing a Doctorate in Science and Music at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, supervised by Prof. Fredrik Schwenk and Prof. Roderick Chadwick (of the Royal Academy of Music). Prior to this he completed his Bachelor’s on the ‘Joint’ Course at the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester, where he studied with Professors Adam Gorb and David Horne.

Biography

Dominic's music is informed by a keen interest in musical and artistic history, often making use of old forms, techniques and ideas, and recontextualising them to create something new. His passion for birds and the natural world led him to complete internships at the NABU Information Centre 'Blumberger Mühle' in Brandenburg and at Hauke-Haien Hoog in Wattenmeer where he assembled more knowledge about ecology and conservation. These themes play an important role in his music, which often makes use of natural sounds. His most recent work has begun to use technology to explore the formal possibilities present in natural sounds, calls and songs, and using this research to create new musical forms.

Over the last 8 years, his music has been performed by prestigious contemporary groups such as the London Sinfonietta, Explore Ensemble and Psappha Ensemble, as well by such internationally famous groups as the Tallis Scholars, Royal Opera House Orchestra and Brodsky Quartet. In 2024, Dominic was proud to have had premieres with the Ensemble Resonanz, the Hamburger Symphoniker and the Avanti! Ensemble in Porvoo, Finland. Bayreuth Young Artist's festival has premiered two works by Dominic in the last two years, and his chamber works have been frequently performed at the Hamburg conservatory.