John Rea

Since leaving Cardiff University and an early career as a session musician & arranger for Dave Stewart’s Anxious Records in London, John has subsequently enjoyed a long and successful career as a composer for concert platform, theatre, television and film, whilst also experimenting with sound installation, and sound-art. His numerous interests and abilities find him playing rock and roll piano for The Manic Street Preachers one day, and composing for the BBC National Orchestra next….

Alongside numerous nominations, John’s awards include two BAFTA Wales Awards in the ‘Best Original Music’ category: in 1995, and 2000 for specially composed scores: for the BBC commissioned film featuring contemporary dance company Cyrff Ystwyth, directed by Paul Islwyn Thomas, and his orchestral score for the BBC Wales arts series The Big Picture directed by Ceri Sherlock.

John’s interest in sound and music first appeared in a groundbreaking piece called Breakbeat for string orchestra and four turntables/samplers (in collaboration with DJ’s Bench & Jaffa) which was shown as part of the S4C series Y Cyfansoddwyr/The Composers. Other commissions include work for The BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, The National Museum of Wales, The Arts Council of Wales, The Welsh National Opera Orchestra Brass Consort, Walk The Plank, The Wales Millennium Centre.

John continues to pursue his interests in composition, sound and multimedia installations, he recently presented a multi-channel immersive sound-art and music work as part of RANEEN Festival of Art in Muscat, Oman in 2024 and recently scored the film 'Turn Up The Sun!' with director Jamie Adams.