About - Julie Cooper Music | Composer

Julie Cooper is an award-winning Classical Crossover and Media composer of visual music inspired by our Natural World and its profound effect on our Emotional World.

With music broadcast extensively on screen for Film, Television, Advertising, Video Games and all visual media worldwide, Julie’s music is also heard frequently on BBC Radio 3 Unwind, BBC Radio 3 and 4, Classic FM and ABC Classic. She has scored multiple cinematic orchestral and chamber Production Music albums for Television Drama, Film, Wildlife documentaries and Advertising, together with numerous commissions for BBC Radio Drama, Theatre and the Concert platform.

Her album ‘Haunted By The Secret’, commissioned by Universal’s Chappel Noir label for Crime Drama and Thrillers, received two nominations in the category Best Score Production Music Track in The Production Music Awards, winning with her track ‘Game Of Trust’.

Julie’s most recent Classical Crossover albums, ‘OCULUS’ and ‘CONTINUUM’, are available on Signum Records and all digital streaming platforms. Her latest recording, ‘AS EARTH SLEEPS’, will be released as an EP on Signum Records in November 2026, featuring Laura Newey and the Oculus Ensemble, conducted by Natalie Murray-Beale. ‘OCULUS’, released in February 2024 (reaching No.2 in the Official Specialist Classical Chart), draws inspiration from not only the artists performing but also the synthesis of colour and music through both Italian Renaissance paintings and dance, together with Julie’s fascination with the vividly descriptive colours the Oculus Ensemble’s conductor Jessica Cottis sees when conducting in specific keys through her colour synaesthesia (chromaesthesia).

The album features Rebeca Omordia, Camilla Pay, Eliza Marshall, Grace Davidson, Anna Hale, Joby Burgess, Cara Berridge, the Her Ensemble and Oculus Ensemble, conducted by Jessica Cottis and Simon Hale, produced by Jonathan Allen. ‘CONTINUUM’ , released in February 2022 (No.3 in the Official Specialist Classical Chart), was written during the year of the coronavirus lockdowns as a musical diary depicting its profound effect on our emotions, our lives, and nature around us. The title track features a narrative written and recorded for the album by the distinguished actor Adjoa Andoh, an extremely moving monologue evoking the emotional journey of the pandemic. Conducted by Jessica Cottis, it features Grace Davidson, Clio Gould, Elena Urioste, Nicholas McCarthy, Justin Pearson, Anthony Pike and the Oculus Ensemble.

In 2021, formed the Oculus Ensemble to record CONTINUUM at Abbey Road. A chamber orchestra made up of London’s most talented session musicians Julie has worked with over many years both in the studio and on the concert platform.

Her recent commissions/recordings for other artists include a reimagining of Liszt’s ‘Consolation No.3’ for the multi-talented saxophonist Jess Gillam and the Jess Gillam Ensemble for her EP ‘Prism II’ released on Decca. ‘Firedove’ was commissioned by Internationally acclaimed organist Anna Lapwood as the title track of her album released on Sony Classical. Featuring the distinguished violinist Elena Urioste and the Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge.

For BBC Radio Drama, most recently Julie scored the soundtrack for the Donna Leon detective series set in Venice. ‘Aqua Alta’ and ‘Death at La Fenice’. were broadcast in 2024 and 2025 with the 3rd installment ‘A Venetian Reckoning’ broadcast in June 2026. Directed and Produced by Eoin O’Callaghan as a Big Fish Production for BBC Radio 4’s Drama on 4. Other soundtracks for BBC Radio Drama include Javier Mariás Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me’, Jean-Paul Sartre’s trilogy ‘The Roads To Freedom’, Ibsen ‘Hedda Gabler‘, Shakespeare ‘The Winter’s Tale’, Robert Ferguson ‘Dr. Ibsen’s Ghosts and Jane Austen ‘Lady Susan’. She has also scored many theatre productions in the UK, Italy and Switzerland.

For the concert platform, commissions have been incredibly varied in instrumentation and high-profile venues including the Royal Albert Hall (Main Hall and Elgar Room), the Glasshouse Gateshead, St.Martin-in-the-Fields, Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank, St.David’s Hall Cardiff, Snape Maltings, Petworth Festival, Henley Festival, Newbury Spring Festival, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Spain’s International Music Festival Pórtico do Paraíso, etc.

Most recently her piece ‘Firedove’ received its’ World Premiere at the Royal Albert Hall by Anna Lapwood, Rusanda Panfili (violin) and Pembroke College Girls’ Choir, as part of the International Women’s Day Concert 2026.

‘Galilean Moons’ (CONTINUUM album) commissioned, performed and recorded by the acclaimed left-hand alone concert pianist Nicholas McCarthy, performed live on BBC Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ with Petroc Trelawny, in celebration of the 2026 Artemis II Mission successfully orbiting the Moon. Also performed by Nicholas at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Southbank’s Queen Elizabeth Hall and as part of the ‘Summer at Snape’ concert series, Petworth Festival and Hong Kong Arts Festival. ‘ASCENSIO’ (OCULUS album) receiving its premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, written for, performed and recorded by the distinguished concert pianist and founder of the ‘African Concert Series’, Rebeca Omordia. The concert was part of the Steinway Concert Series in partnership with the Donne-Women in Music Charity Foundation raising awareness of and celebrating Women Composers and Women in Music. Julie also performed the track ‘White and Silver’ from her Human Stories KPM/EMI album together with the Her Ensemble led by Ellie Consta.

Julie received her very first concert commission in the late 80’s from Chichester Festival for a contemporary reimagining of Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic ‘The Four Seasons’ for the Internationally acclaimed percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, together with full stage band including Rod Argent and the late Jon Hiseman and Barbara Thompson. ‘SEASONS‘ premiered at Chichester Cathedral conducted by David Firman, devised by Hugh Wooldridge. Further performances include St.Paul’s, Hammersmith with Evelyn Glennie, the Royal Albert Hall with Danish percussionists the Safri Duo, both conducted by David Firman, the Royal Albert Hall with percussionist Oliver Cox and the City of London Philharmonic and broadcast live on BBC Radio 2’s ‘The Collins Collection’.

She was Composer-in-Residence and orchestrator for 4 years for the education project Crazy Composers devised by BAFTA award-winning television producer and acclaimed musician Robert Howes, in partnership with Internationally acclaimed baroque orchestra The English Concert, Arts Council England and Buxton International Festival.

Julie’s career began whilst studying composition at Cardiff University, following on from winning the BBC TV Christmas song competition ‘The BBC Nationwide Carol Competition’ at 17, devised by Robert Howes for the BBC. She received the Morfydd Owen Prize for Composition at University along with her first professional commission for television from BBC Wales whilst still at University for the chat show Celtic Road Show. She received a Postgraduate Study scholarship to study Composing for Film and Television at the London College of Music.

She is a member of PRS/MCPS, Ivors Academy, the Royal Society of Musicians, PPL and the Musicians’ Union.

Seasons Published by BBC Production Music/Universal Production Music	Conductor John Ashton Thomas Producer Jez Poole Engineer Paul Golding	Evocative chamber ensemble tracks featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, depicting the seasons in pastoral settings scored for Nature Documentaries & Human Stories. Recorded at Masterchord Studio, London.
Symphonic Skies Published by Audio Network	Cinematic Orchestral Soprano Grace Davidson / Conductor Matt Slater	Atmospheric cinematic orchestral soundscapes featuring the haunting soprano vocal of Grace Davidson, inspired by the four elements of nature. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London.
Cinematic Gamescapes Universal Production Music/Chappell	Film and Cinematic Games	Suspenseful orchestral scores for Cinematic Games and Film (multi-composer). Recorded at Angel Studios, London.
Haunted By The Secret Universal Production Music/Chappell Noir	Winner of the Award for Best Score, The Production Music Awards 2016 Producer Clare Owens / Engineer Steve Price Conductor Simon Hale	Cinematic Orchestral Psychological Crime Thriller – Film. Recorded at Angel Studios, London.
Widescreen Elegance Universal Production Music/Chappell	Conductor Andrew Skeet Producer Clare Owens / Engineer Steve Price	Cinematic Orchestral Drama – Film. Recorded at Angel Studios, London.
Human Stories EMI Production Music	Producer Hannah King, Connie Edwards, Conductor Mike Dixon, Engineer Andrew Dudman	Orchestral – TV Drama. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London.
Whispering Tales Audio Network	Producer Andrew Sunnucks /Engineer Steve Price	Chamber Ensemble – TV Drama/Wildlife. Recorded at Angel Studios, London.
Where The Water Flows KPM/EMI Production Music	Conductor David Firman Producer Hannah King Engineer Gerry O’Riordan	Chamber Ensemble – TV/Film Drama. Recorded at Mark Angelo Studio, London.
Natural Life De Wolfe Production Music	Conductor David Firman Producer Warren De Wolfe Engineer Gary Thomas	Chamber Ensemble – Wildlife/Natural History Documentary. Recorded at Angel Studios, London.
Piano Sketches De Wolfe Production Music	Producer Warren De Wolfe Engineer Gary Thomas	Piano – Drama - Wildlife/Natural History Documentary. Recorded at Angel Studios, London.
Country Challenge	Yorkshire Television
Physical Pursuits	ITV/LWT
Innocent Drinks ‘Bolt From The Blue’	Television advertising campaign soundtrack
Imagination Group Natwest, Ford, Accenture	Advertising campaign

‘Falling In Air’ - Symphonic Skies	Julie Cooper	Broadcast on ‘In The Park’ & ‘The Space’ programmes	Scala Radio
Tomorrow In The Battle Think On Me	Javier Marías	Director: Eoin O’Callaghan	Radio 4
The Roads To Freedom Trilogy	Jean-Paul Sartre	Director: Alby James	Radio 4
The Winter’s Tale	Shakespeare	Director: Eoin O’Callaghan	Radio 3
Hedda Gabler	Ibsen	Director: Eoin O’Callaghan	Radio 3
Dr. Ibsen’s Ghosts	Robert Ferguson	Director: Ned Chaillet	Radio 3
Lady Susan	Jane Austen	Director: Jocelyn Boxall	Radio 4

Under Milk Wood	Dylan Thomas	Director: Hugh Wooldridge	Plymouth Theatre Royal, Liverpool Playhouse
Macbeth	William Shakespeare	Director: William Gaunt	Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, London
Double Take	Deborah Moggach	Director: Hugh Wooldridge	Chichester Festival Theatre
Angeli Ai Confini	Nino D’Introna	Director - Nino D’Introna	Teatro Dell’Angolo, Italy + Am Stram Gram, Geneva
Black Sheep	Derrick Cameron	Director: Alby James	Young Vic, London, UK Tour and Holland
Rebecca	Daphne Du Maurier	Director: Hugh Wooldridge	Windsor Theatre Royal, UK Tour
The Business of Murder	Richard Harris	Director: Hugh Wooldridge	Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead, UK Tour

White and Silver	Published by SONY/ATV from the ‘Human Stories’ Album KPM817	Performed by the HER Ensemble (Leader Ellie Consta) - Colours Hoxton, London 5th November, 2022
White and Silver	Published by SONY/ATV from the ‘Human Stories’ Album KPM817	Performed by Julie Cooper (piano) and the HER Ensemble (Leader Ellie Consta) Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall, 23rd October, 2022
Ascensio	Performed by Rebeca Omordia	World Premiere and recorded by Rebeca Omordia for release on Signum Records, 2023 Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall, 23rd October, 2022
Galilean Moons	Performed by Nicholas McCarthy	Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh May 23rd, 2021. Opening weekend of post-lockdown concerts
Galilean Moons	Performed by Nicholas McCarthy	Dorchester Arts Centre February, 2021
Galilean Moons	Performed by Nicholas McCarthy	Royal Albert Hall ‘Royal Albert Home’ Virtual concert series, August 2020 (virtual)
Galilean Moons	Performed by Nicholas McCarthy	Hong Kong Arts Festival, March 2020 (virtual)
Galilean Moons	Performed by Nicholas McCarthy	Premiere St.Martin-in-the-Fields, London, November 2019
LIGHT	Solo Soprano Grace Davidson, clarinet Helen Paskins, cello Justin Pearson, piano Julie Cooper	Premiere St.Martin-in-the-Fields, London (2018)
Still Silent	Soprano Ellie Mead The Locrian Ensemble and Locrian Singers of London Cond. Paul Bateman Lyric from Walter de La Mare’s poem ‘Snow’ by kind permission of the Walter De La Mare Literary Estate	Premiere St.Martin-in-the-Fields, London (2013)
Sceptre of The Dove	Flutes Andy Findon The Locrian Ensemble of London Conductor: David Firman HRH Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Proms, SMITF	Premiere St.Martin-in-the-Fields (2012)
SEASONS	Percussion Oliver Cox, The City Of London Philharmonic, Conductor Kevin Amos	Devised by Hugh Wooldridge (2012) Royal Albert Hall, London
Pride Of Honour	Opening Fanfare of the 2011 Wales Festival Of Remembrance in celebration of the Royal British Legion’s 90th Anniversary. Conductor Major Denis Burton MBE	Premiere St.David’s Hall, Cardiff (2011)
Ad Astra	Choral work, 2010 soprano performances by Annett Wardell and Claire Moore , The Locrian Ensemble of London. Conductor David Firman.	Premiere St.Martin-in-the-Fields (2010)
Spirit Of The Sound	Aidy Spillett’s percussion quartet 4-MALITY UK Tour, Branscombe Festival, Portiso Do Paraiso International Music Festival	Premiere The Stables, Wavendon (2009)
CARIAD	Cello: Justin Pearson The Locrian Ensemble of London Conductor: David Firman UK Tour, Civic Hall Cork, The Helix Dublin CD released on Cirrus Records 2009 (Amazon, iTunes, cdBaby, Spotify) recorded Angel Studios, London	Premiere St.Martin-in-the-Fields (2008)
Serenading Tides	Chamber work featuring soprano Claire Moore, cello Nick Roberts and piano Julie Cooper	Premiere Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York (2007)
FourSquareFireDance	Dance work performed by Union Dance to choreographed fireworks on the Thames. Violin Ralph Allin, Saxophone Phil Todd, Percussion Alasdair Malloy, Piano Simon Hale/Julie Cooper	Henley Festival (2004)
SEASONS	Percussion The Safri Duo Stage Band Rod Argent, Lucy Wakeford, Andy Findon, Phil Todd, Mitch Dalton, Jeremy Meehan, Harold Fisher, Kelvin Thomson, Julie Cooper, Stephen Disley, Claire Moore and the Brass Ensemble of the Welsh Guards. Conductor: David Firman	Royal Albert Hall - London. (November 1994)
SEASONS	Stage Band conducted by Andy Read.	BBC Radio 2 : The Collins Collection presented by Stewart Collins.
SEASONS	Percussion Dame Evelyn Glennie and Stage Band Gala performance. Conductor Michael Reed. Prose written for this performance by Christopher Fry, spoken by Dame Judi Dench, Imogen Stubbs, Jeremy irons & Robert Powell.	St.Paul's, London (December 1990)
SEASONS	Percussion Dame Evelyn Glennie Commissioned for Dame Evelyn Glennie and stage band by Chichester Festival. Conductor David Firman. Devised by Hugh Wooldridge	World Premiere Chichester Cathedral, Chichester Festival (July 1990)

CONTINUUM	Signum Classics SIGCD364	Producer Jonathan Allen Conductor Jessica Cottis Writer / Narrator Adjoa Andoh Oculus Ensemble (Leader Clio Gould) Recorded at Abbey Road, Masterchord and ID Audio, London	Featuring Grace Davidson, Elena Urioste, Clio Gould, Nicholas McCarthy, Justin Pearson, Anthony Pike, Julie Cooper	Album Released in February 2022
CARIAD	Cirrus Records CR0911	Conductor David Firman Engineer Gary Thomas Recorded at Angel Studios, London	Cello Justin Pearson Harp Jean Kelly The Locrian Ensemble of London (Leader Rita Manning)	Album Released:
SERENADING TIDES	-	Soprano Claire Moore Cello Nick Roberts Piano Julie Cooper	-	Album Released: